MikeS Wrote:
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>
> one of the more promising lines of research is
> from cells harvested from the pancreas of a dead
> donor. This is promising stuff!!! Now imagine if
> you can remove the dead person from the equation
> and grow them on demand. Wouldn't that be
> great!!!

Or wouldn't it be great if an ailing pancreas could be taught to regenerate itself, with no loss of life for anyone?



> Sorry Joanne you are scaremongering in the most
> unfounded way! Surely the answer is to do proper
> controlled research not to lock all the ideas away
> in a draw, stick your head in the sand and pretend
> it never happened.

Strawman! I never said I don't support proper research. This isn't proper research IMO. I support putting resources, money and talent, into the most likely to pay off in most efficient way.


>
>
> > There was an interesting debate on stem cell
> > research on the Catholic TV channel that I
> watched
> > a couple of months ago, and posted links
> here. I
> > don't know if anyone else watched it. One
> point
> > that was made was that there are different
> kinds
> > of stem cell research, and most of us do not
> know
> > about it. Cells from embryos are one kind,
> but
> > adult stem cells can also be used. According
> to
> > this show, it is only the adult stem cell
> work
> > that is yielding good results. Embryonic
> cells
> > are different from adult cells in that they
> are
> > harder to control and more like cancer in
> some
> > respects. The adult cells behave better for
> the
> > researchers. Aside from morality issues,
> which
> > the Catholic church has, there is this other
> > practical difference which no one talks
> about. I
> > had hoped that someone who knows more than I
> do
> > about biology (looks around for Pete) had
> watched
> > and could comment.
>
> Though I didn't see the program you talked about
> (I'm not Catholic so with greatest respect have no
> wish or need to watch a TV channle like that...

That's sad to hear. I'm not Catholic either. I posted the listing because the program was quite interesting and I learned a great deal.


> just about the only thing I watch now is the new
> Dr Who, now Cassanova has finished). Did read an
> article a while back which was taking about stem
> cells harvested from adults, and I'm fairly
> certain it was from bone marrow (or at least
> somewhere in the bone!). A very interesting area
> which, as I feel with everything in this topic,
> needs full exploring.

The show visited a biotech lab, explained the problems with embryonic vs. adult cells and showed how the adult stem cell research is already paying off in some conditions.


> so because its growing one seperate organ for
> another species its now part human... I think you
> are blurring the line too easily!

No, you keep missing or avoiding the point. It is not a sheep liver that is being grown for harvesting. It's a hybrid liver from a creature that's never existed before. There's no telling what could happen if a hybrid organ is transplanted into another species.


> Please... really don't try and take the moral
> highground with me about eco-systems. I've spent
> many holidays actually doing things to try and
> save eco-systems as opposed to just talking about
> it and 'morally' supporting it like most people do
> (and please note I'm not accusing you of that, if
> you actively work and help and put time to that
> cause thats GREAT!). BUT a sheep being reared in
> captivity is not part of a natural eco-system. Its
> seperate. It is neither predator nor prey. It is
> build for one purpose.
>
> Again I think you are unnecessarily trying to
> blurring the line

Sorry, Mike, but each time you call the hybrid a sheep, it's you who's blurring the line. The hybrid is not part of any eco-system.