[dogscoff]

Last I heard, stem cells were gotten from the unborn.
and I suggest that discussion break off here.

Then you haen't been keeping up to date. Stem cells can now be found in all kinds of places that do not involved aborted foetuses or "the unborn" at all.

Imagine someone in need of a new kidney giving a DNA swab from their mouth, and having stem cells grown from that, and from those stem cells a new organ being grown specifically for them. Since the genetic material would be their own, there would be no (or very little) risk of rejection, which would make the process infinitely more successful.

Not to mention the fact that it spares a potential donor (assuming one can be found) the risk and inconvenience of having one of their own kidneys removed.


Here's a quote: "Adult stem cells have been isolated from numerous adult tissues, umbilical cord, and other non-embryonic sources," from
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/prentice.htm
That same site on adult stem cell research has a statement about its ethics in which it specifically states that it is opposed to taking cells from pre-birth sources: http://www.stemcellresearch.org/statement/index.html

[ March 24, 2004, 10:49: Message edited by: dogscoff ]