Cell Me On It

I am so happy that President Obama is going to overturn the Bush-era ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. His decision (which he is expected to announce Monday, March 9, 2009) will reverse an executive order signed by Bush in 2001 that restricted federal funding to a small number of stem cell lines already in existence. The reversal will not allow the use of federal money for the creation of new stem cell lines, but will permit scientists who work with newer stem cell lines to apply for Government funding for their research.

I am glad that science is now coming to the forefront again. It feels like we have been at a stand-still in medical advancement for eight years now, it really is time for a change. I don't support stuff like cloning or genetically changing your baby's eye color before it is born, but I do support stem cell research because it is a move that could potentially open pathways for new cures for serious diseases and ailments like diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, strokes, and so many more. This type of research holds the power to improve the quality of lives for so many people and may even increase the life expectancy of people. Of course there is a lot of backlash coming from the anti-abortionists and religious organizations who view embryonic stem cell research as an homicidal act. They argue that adult stem cells should be used instead.

Research using adult stem cells already have about a 20 year jump on embryonic stem cell research. Potential treatments have thus already advanced to the human trial stage. However, adult cells are limited in their flexibility and only have the potential to develop into a few of the cell types. Embryonic cells on the other hand, can develop into over 220 types of human cells. One embryonic stem can provide an endless supply of cells with defined characteristics. Adult cells do not live as long as embryonic cells in culture. It can also more difficult to obtain adult cells in large quantities for research purposes.

I personally believe that a embryo has the POTENTIAL to DEVELOP into a human being but isn't a human being by itself. A lot of pro-lifers believe that human life in the form of an ovum and spermatozoon are a human from the very moment of fertilization. A stem cell is just a "blank" cell if you will, that is capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body like a skin cell, a muscle cell, nerve cell, etc. Their microscopic in size and are big news in the medical world because they can be used to replace or heal damages cells. Kind of like a built-in repair system for the human body that will replenish the body with healthy cells. With the support of 70% of Americans and our President, I think that stem cell research has a great chance to help so many people and their families; I am all for it.