Stem cell research seeing increased attention from both sides

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Oct 27th 2006 1:34PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health

Although this is a little off-topic for Fitness -- but not for health -- the possibility and controversial nature of stem cell research is hitting new fever pitches, as actor Michael J. Fox has been featured in a new pro-stem cell campaign to lobby for the legalization of this type of research.

Fox, who visibly suffers from Parkinson's Disease, has taken up the celebrity fight that late actor Christopher Reeve championed until his death just over two years ago. Stem cells have the *potential* to help alleviate pain and suffering through making medical advances possible, but recent studies show that Americans are just about evenly split on the issue.

Although talk show host Rush Limbaugh accused Fox of basically being a poster boy for stem cell research by not taking his medications -- and therefore visibly showing signs of his disease -- Fox defended political ads he filmed for candidates who support stem cell research ahead of tight congressional elections.

Fox added that he did not want to be pitied because he suffers from Parkinson's disease. I'll ask in this post -- who is for stem cell research funded by the government of the U.S.? Why or why not?

Source

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andy C 10-27-2006 @ 2:46PM

I don't care if the government funds it or not, but I sure don't want the government standing in the way. We don't know enough to draw hard edges, we need to walk careful but openly into the future. Early misconceptions and clouded thoughts by belief systems should not. Eyes wide open and all that.

A Student 10-27-2006 @ 3:28PM

Please make the distinction between adulat and embryonic stem cell research. Blurring this distinction adds to the confusion and frustration of the entire topic.

Once you've got that, get the regular facts. He is not lobbying for "legalization of this type of research." I can legally do this research today, right now.

He is fighting for a candidate who he believes will help increase federal funding of this kind of research. That's a huge distinction, and the reason opponents are upset is they don't want to be forced to pay for research they find reprehensible.

Private firms can and do study using embryonic stem cells. Not a lot of private funding reaches them, frankly, because embryonic research hasn't shown a lot of results. Most of the private investment has been in adult stem cells.

In any case, it helps everyone to at least refer to the subject accurately.

Brian 10-27-2006 @ 3:57PM

Good points -- however, the public presentation of Fox as for candidates that can further the agenda of "stem cell research" (whether adulat or embryonic) has the peculiar distinction of lobbying for the research through support for a candidate what can have a direct influence -- so he's supporting stem cell research by proxy, albeit indirectly.

Thanks for your comment -- and yes, private firms can do this research now on both types of stem cell lines. What the post was referring to was government-funded research.

Billy 10-28-2006 @ 8:28AM

I am against embryonic stem cell harvesting and use. According to the absolute truth of the Holy Bible (AV), our creator knows us before we are formed in the womb.

One cell is a living, human entity if it comes from a human source. To use even a human zygoate (sp) as if it was a mere commodity to be exploited is worse than slavery. It reduces the human race to the level of cattle and it is murder.

Elaine Rosenblatt 10-28-2006 @ 10:01AM

I am irate at selfish idiots who pulled out medical jounals to find terminology which is not familiar to the average person. Shame on you all. I would agree to using dog's fecal material if there was the slightest chance that it would help anyone with a desease. A person, whose suffering might be relieved thru the study of stem cell research, is entitled to that "trial of hope." If you disagree and hopefully you develop some dreaded ailment or have a deforming accident DONT' TAKE THE MEDICINE!!!

Donna Larson 10-28-2006 @ 11:12AM

I am for stem cell research because I have a husband who has Parkinson"s and an uncle who has alzhimers and if stem cell can begin to understand the why's and how's and to find a way to begin to find a help in treating or stopping them I am all for it.
No one knows or understands Parkinson untill you have a dear one who lives daily with it.
Sincerly
Donna Larson

Donna Larson 10-28-2006 @ 11:15AM

I am for stem cell all the way. My husband has Parkinson and I pray that thur stem cell research we may be able to find a way to help cure or control it.

JILL WILLINGER 10-28-2006 @ 11:44AM

HAVING COME FROM A GOOD FAMILY, I LEARNED EARLY THAT UNDERMINING TRULY ILL INDIVIDUALS IS CRUEL. LIMBAUGH CLEARLY DOES NOT COME FROM THIS MILIEU. HIS UNCONSCIONABLE TIRADE AGAINST FOX IS REPREHENSIBLE.
FORTUNATELY, MANY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE COME TO HIS DEFENSE.
I SUPPORT STEM CELL RESEARCH. A FRIEND OF MINE IS DEAD BECAUSE OF THE (AT THAT TIME) DEARTH OF SAID RESEARCH.
SURELY, FOX DID NOT ABANDON A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CAREER IN FILM & TELEVISION IN ORDER TO BECOME A SPOKESPERSON FOR THIS DREADED DISEASE.

Richard 10-28-2006 @ 11:59AM

What a piece of 'yellow' journalism by failing to note embryonic stem cell research rather than the the more general "stem cell," and the failure to note that there is nothing illegal about the embryonic stem cell research which has considerable private funding. The question is simply whether federal funding is appropriate, and when a sizeable portion of the populace thinks it inappropriate limiting the federal funding seems a politically logical decision.........BTW I 'am' for embryonic stem cell research although I find considerable evidence that adult stem cell research seems to on track to provide more immediate benefits.

Carolyn D 10-28-2006 @ 12:04PM

Your right God knows you BEFORE you are born. When does the soul enter the body? No one knows, but I don't believe that a bunch of cells with no body or organs is it. If the temple you worship in has a crack in the wall, wouldn't you go get the tools God allowed you to create and fix it? You're body is also God's temple and I believe he has granted us the ability to find cures that will help us. The Bible says time and chance happen to all.
If it is meant for us to die or live with an illness, no cure will work.
If it is just because of time and chance, then I believe God expects us to fix his temple, he doesn't want us to suffer for no reason.
If it is just because of time and chance, then I believe God expects us to fix his temple, he doesn't want us to suffer for no reason.
The reason they want to do research on embryonic stem cells is that they are the building blocks of the body. They haven't differentiated yet, they haven't recieved the information they
need to become what they will be. Just like concrete is a building block, once something is made from it, it can't be anything else.
That's why adult stem cells are more difficult to work with.
They want to take cells from eggs that haven't formed anything yet. They took the stem cell blood from the umbilical cord of a new born and injected it into the mother of the baby and cured her lukemia. They located damaged areas of heart patients, and injected stem cells that had thier dna removed into those areas, within 3 months, the damaged areas were regenerating new heart tissue and new blood vessels were forming(article in AARP)the
heart muscle was getting stronger and pumping blood more effiently
They don't want to "grow replacement parts" just help the body help itself. The adult research has found a possible link between
stem cells and some forms of cancer. Adult stem cells are responsible for replacing cells as they die off, sometimes the information the new cells recieve is off and they develop into cancerous cells. The research has so many possibilities. Everyone is going to have thier own oppinions about this, I just wished everyone would read all they can about what it is they want to do, what kind of research they are doing, where they hope to go with it, and what they have found so far, before they form thier
views. I think a lot of people are have knee jerk reactions to it, this research is to important to not at least learn about. It has a strong possibility to cure heart desease, diabetes, birth defect, already cured one lady's lukemia, regenerate damaged nerves for paralyed people, blindness--I don't know, probably---let's find out!