Catholic Church finds alternative to stem cell research - a good new turn?

[Dark Luther]

The Catholic church has stated they have made valuable progress in stem cell research that removes the need to use tissue from a fetus. They state that certain stem cells from the nose have been found to be just as good if not better and cheaper. It is not conclusive yet and the church is still moving along spending a great deal of money on this.

In my view - even if it is a failure, this is a very good shift for the church. By finding an alternative, they can progress much of their belief and bennefit man kind as a whole.

If it is succesful, this may be a new and great path the church has taken, where they will find alternatives instead of simply condemning sinners. This is an interesting thing Pope John Paul II left us.....

[Zelphiel]

Any discovery in that field is progress... and progress is always good. I'm not personally opposed to fetal stem cell research, but if they can find a simpler alternate I'm for it.

[Catholicon]

The only reason they choose stem cells from the fetuses is because they are new. Older ones aren't as stable and they, how to word this, stay the same age. As in whatever you get from the stem cell will be as if it were the same age as the person you got it from...

[Chicken Little]

aye its what happened with dolly the sheep in cloning, they used like older cells to clone so a newborn was on a genetic level 80yrs old.

im wondering how the chuch came to the conclusion the nose was a good place...

[Dark Luther]

Their theory comes through several conclusions and theories

- Some cells have longer life spans than others, and thus don't need to be taken from a fetus.

- Some areas of the body have renewable cells that are not too differant from the younger fetus stem cells, with their bennefit of being simple to extract and easy to work with, out - weighing any other factors.

[The Deity]

I'm really excited by this news, its great to hear that the church has found a possibly quite viable alternative to stem cell research, and as most of you guessed I am opposed to fetal stem cell research

[Catholicon]

Their theory comes through several conclusions and theories

- Some cells have longer life spans than others, and thus don't need to be taken from a fetus.

- Some areas of the body have renewable cells that are not too differant from the younger fetus stem cells, with their bennefit of being simple to extract and easy to work with, out - weighing any other factors.

The life of the cells really depends upon the DNA in them. Aging is just the breaking down and replication of DNA. Taking an older cell that "is new" has DNA of the same "age" as the person it came from....

[Dark Luther]

But there are such things as cells stored that have not replicated and are incubated - essentially being very close to new...

The main point though is that certain cells also age slower...

Nobody said this doesn't make sacrifices - but it's benefit is it's cheaper and easier
( along with morality for some ).

It's also not something completly ready as an option, or even concluded possible. It is simply a theory where advancement has been made and shows promise.

[Catholicon]

It's a good thing..I'm just not sure if it will become accepted.

[Lancet Jades]

It's a good thing..I'm just not sure if it will become accepted.
No one's EVER sure something in science will "be accepted". The purpose of theories is so people can try to prove and utilize them, which is what furthers science.

Trying to strike down an idea because the theory is possibly unsound is stupid, especially when its being presented as a more "moral" alternative to a current science.

[Catholicon]

No one's EVER sure something in science will "be accepted". The purpose of theories is so people can try to prove and utilize them, which is what furthers science.

Trying to strike down an idea because the theory is possibly unsound is stupid, especially when its being presented as a more "moral" alternative to a current science.

Well stated. I just don't want to think of the possibilities of human cloning....