Easier method of stem cell research?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Quite Possibly.

Human skin cells have been reprogrammed by two groups of scientists to mimic embryonic stem cells with the potential to become any tissue in the body.

Rest of it is in the article. Very interesting, I must say.

[Roy Mustang]

I read about this a few days ago and it looks very interesting.


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[mitsuki lover]

The potential is much greater with the new method as well and it would cost less as they don't have to grow the stem cells for a long period of time.At least that is my understanding.

[Bobtheduck]

I heard this on the news. Also how Michael J Fox's group is opposed to this. Of course, for many supporters, it wasn't really about the people who's lives would be saved, it was about pro-choice propaganda. If there was some societal benefit to abortion, it would be more difficult to condemn it. With one less reason to do it, guess they'll have to go back to the old standby "better not bringing a child into the world than bringing one in unloved or abandoned to a stranger."

[RidleyofZebes]

Quite interesting! If this goes where it looks like it's going, it could be very useful!

[Tenshi no Ai]

Lemme get this straight (since I've never totally understood stem cell research)...

They GROW embryos to test the stuff on? So they fertilize an egg and sit in a test tube?? I always knew the stem cell was controversial, but I thought it more or less involved organ donors and testing stuff on those organs. Didn't think it involved embryos like that... that's pretty sick :/ Or is it aborted embryos they work on? Either way...

The skin method looks alot better, and cheaper. Lots of skin on people to go around and it falls off every day.

[Mithrandir]

The typical way one would get the embryos is to use "left over" material from fertility clinics and the like. This is typically genetic material that would otherwise be destroyed.

Some people are opposed to "brining live into the world just to destroy it," while others are opposed to "throwing away a potential cure."

On a mod level, let's keep this out of the debate arena. I'm just explaining what she was confused about.

[mitsuki lover]

The only problem with the new method that I can see is that it needs to be tested a bit more before they can start really using it.