Ethical Stem Cells

[blike]

From NewScientist.com: "The phenomenon that leads to "virgin births" in some species looks like a promising source of embryonic stem cells. Researchers are on the brink of obtaining human stem cells this way for the first time, and animal experiments suggest such cells are indistinguishable from normal stem cells.

 

In parthenogenesis, an unfertilised egg keeps two sets of chromosomes and begins developing as if it had been fertilised. Some insects and reptiles can reproduce this way but even though an electric or chemical stimulus can induce parthenogenesis in mammals, the resulting embryos die after a few days.

 

And that, according to its proponents, is the beauty of the technique as far as stem cells are concerned: it produces embryos that could never become human beings. So destroying these embryos to obtain stem cells would avoid the ethical concerns that have led to restrictions or bans on embryonic stem cell research in many countries."

[Glider]

Cool!

[fafalone]

Unlikely that this won't bother those pesky ethicists, i.e. extremists who believe even if a baby has severe birth defects and won't survive more than a couple days after birth should still be carried full term.

[Glider]

Probably, but then if parthenogenesis results in an embryo that won't survive to term (or even to the foetal stage) then I can't see how they could have a problem with it.

[NavajoEverclear]

Actually I think he means the EMBREYO dies after a few days (thats what he said)--- not even a fetus, or visibly distinguishable as human---- get that? It isn't born, its beyond premature. More like a miscaraige, or maybe even they are pass off as a late period.