New Jersey Endorses Stem Cell Research

[xpgeek]

This month, Acting Governor Codey announced a pioneering stem cell research initiative that will make New Jersey home to the nation’s first public umbilical and placental stem cell bank. Scientists have discovered that placental and umbilical cord blood holds great promise in its ability to provide a rich supply of stem cells for the ground-breaking research being done in this field.

Too often, people are unaware of the potential this donation has for the advancement of this science. As a result, these valuable fluids are often discarded as medical waste after childbirth. To change this trend, Codey also announced an educational campaign to be conducted by the Department of Health and Senior Services which will inform OB-GYNs, hospitals and other health care professionals about donation opportunities. They, in turn, will pass this information on to their patients.

A major plus of this initiative is President Bush's ban on embryonic stem cell research does not apply to it. The President banned research in the United States on stem cells created from the harvesting of human embryos, where a human embryo is essentially cloned and grown in a lab, and then harvested, and killed, for its stem cells.

Many Americans, supported by many scientists, believe the human embryos are not yet alive when they are harvested and merely contain the potential to create life, and feel embryonic stem cell research should continue. Under the President's ban, only embryonic stem cells created before the ban took affect can be used in research and no new embryonic stem cells created.

The New Jersey stem cell research initiative will refresh a dwindling supply of stem cells to perform research with from the umbilical and placental cords donated by women after childbirth, and not harvest a single human embryo.

What are your views on stem cell research ? On embryonic stem cell research and on New Jersey's stem cell research initiative ?

[Micron]

"Stem cell research is one of the 21st century's most exciting areas of science. Although still in its infancy, it offers a revolutionary way to repair diseased and damaged body tissues using healthy new cells. But before we can be sure exactly how stem cells work and how they can be harnessed to combat human disease, a vast amount of research still needs to be done".

Taken from http://www.stemcellforum.org.uk

Im all for Stem Cell research, providing its done ethically and used for the greater good, like curing deseases.

My understanding of this is that it's not used for the greater good. Before we know it we will have Uber Soldiers running around like Jean Claude Van Damme and a population like Judge Dredd.

There are other ways of getting stem cells other than live embryo's.

[zimagirl79]

I'm all for stem cell research, but I agree it must be done in an ethical way and for the right reasons, such as disease and birth defect research.

It is a shame to throw away potentially useful fluids after childbirth, and so all women should be informed of the option to have theirs saved and put to good use in research. I was vaguely aware of the possibility that someone could use the cord blood when I had my kids, but the hospital I delivered at did not participate in such programs so it was just discarded.

To purposely grow new embryos just for the stem cells does not feel ethical to me. A human embryo is alive from the moment those first few cells begin to divide and learn what body part they are going to be. If it wasn't alive it couldn't continue to grow.

We all know research takes time, and we all wish it could be hurried along. But growing embyos so there are more stem cells to work with won't necessarily speed the research up any.

[xpgeek]

I'm all for stem cell research too, but am unsure of my feelings on embryonic stem cell research. If theres a way to get stem cells for research without using embryos, which New Jersey has now thought of, great.

I agree with Micron too and think some regulation of the research is required too. Every great technological discovery in history has always led to a new weapon of warfare not long after.

[Alucard]

As long as science is used ethically with ramifications in mind, I agree with research. What I do not agree with is science and study to benefit the ego of some megalomaniac or to see if we can make a man with 2 heads just to see if it can be done (although that might make someone happy somewhere...).

I find that most people are squeamish when it comes to biological harvesting including organ donation, cord-blood sampling, etc...

However, I am told that the skin from circumcision is used for burn victims for skin grafts and that sheep and other animal fetuses are sources of collagen that women use in their shampoo and conditioner...

[Ellie23]

I thought this was interesting, about Thierry Henry
Henry in stem cell scheme (http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2005/10/28/1a453f0a-9b24-4009-b1d6-9dea4775bb8c.lpf)