America steps up on stem cells, finally unleashed from "war on science".

Stem cells are amazing and will be one of humanity's greatest discoveries, if it isn't already.

 

Quoted for truth. I am pro choice but personally would be against abortion in my own life and for my own body (if I were a woman.) So In Vitro, and the blind eye that abortion activists turn to it, are really disturbing to me. Implant up to 8 viable embryos when you 7-8 of them will most probably be sloughed off. Rinse, repeat until pregnancy results.

Arguably, that's the equivalent of multiple abortions at each attempt at pregnancy. Or at least to my understanding of biology. I mean no offense to those who have pursued it, and it's totally legal, but I can't understand why the practice doesn't get more criticism from the "pro life" contingent.

This is all irrelevant for stem cells now that you can make them from skin cells anyway.

 

Are you sure about this? I thought embryonic stem cells were still more useful or powerful or better somehow than other types.

 

Embryonic stem cells are like oil while adult pluripotent stem cells are like plastic. Sure you can recycle the plastic, but you can't run a car with it.

 

Yeah, I oversimplified big time. But you can do a lot with the pluripotent in terms of research, as I understand it... (and I understand the fundamental science here quite poorly)

 

So, because someone might hypothetically make a bad decision, you outlaw the entire practice? In that case, shouldn't we outlaw guns, since people might use guns to kill innocents? Or outlaw cars, because people might run a red light and hit someone? Or outlaw booze, because someone might drive drunk and kill someone?

When an area of scientific study presents as much promise as stem cell research does, and can be as much of a positive influence on society as it presents the potential of being, you can't just turn your back on it because some nimrods might make stupid choices. We owe it to humanity to explore the option.