Embryos survive stem cell harvest

[IDemo]

Source: MSNBC staff and news service reports


Company urges White House to endorse technique

updated 1:17 p.m. MT, Thurs., Jan. 10, 2008

WASHINGTON - A company that devised a way to make embryonic stem cells without destroying human embryos Thursday urged President Bush to endorse the technique.

Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology reported on Thursday that it has grown five batches of cells using the method, which is adapted from a procedure to test embryos for severe genetic diseases. Called preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, the procedure involves taking a single cell from an embryo when it contains only eight or so cells.

The technique usually does not harm the embryo, which is frozen for possible future implantation into the mother's womb. The team, led by ACT scientific director Robert Lanza, similarly froze human embryos and used the single cell that was removed as a source of human embryonic stem cells.

Lanza said the technique could be used to create mass quantities of embryonic stem cells without destroying a human embryo — in contrast with the methods currently used for extracting embryonic stem cells.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22594571/

[aquart]

1. Wonderful. And then we put the embryos in the trash?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. They stay frozen? Until thawed for snowflake production?

Not sure myself. MKJ

[Kutjara]

3. Just what I was thinking.

The amount of time and money that's been wasted appeasing the fundies and their 'every sperm is sacred' craziness is sickening, especially when you consider it could have been spent on researching treatments for terrible diseases.

So now, we can carefully remove a stem cell from an embryo, and then carefully freeze the embryo like a bag of peas, on the assumption that, maybe one day, someone somewhere might want to make a baby out of it? Ridiculous. And just the kind of rank hypocrisy most likely to appeal to fundies.

[IDemo]

5. No, that was the whole point of the article

They have developed a technique for removing a single cell without damaging the embryo, which has been the stumbling block for gaining acceptance of embryonic stem cell research from the White House and other 'Snowflake Baby' protectors.

[aquart]

6. But many people don't want snowflakes from their DNA.

[IDemo]

10. I guess now the point being that they can be put on ice semi-permanently

whether or not a snow-loving young couple comes along. The embryo is now 'intact' and ready for a good thaw, or not.

[enlightenment]

9. They use the word "usually"

The article suggests that the rate is about 80% - presumably the remaining 20% are damaged in the process; consistent with the PGD technique.

The difference, I assume (no scientist here), is that in PGD the embryo is already in a uterus, not a petri dish and the parent/s understand the risk of damage.

What do they do with the damaged embryos in the case of these petri dish extras? Freeze them, too?

I don't care, myself, (it's just a collection of cells until it comes out kicking and breathing) - but I'd like to think that they don't hang onto the damaged embryos just to prove a point.

[terisan]

4. Free the Frozen Embryos!!! Republican women Donate your wombs and your mothering!

[ret5hd]

7. What if they accidentally harvest the stem cell that grows the SOUL???

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

8. Well, then all you're left with is a future Republican.

Ba da boom! MKJ

[jbm]

13. LOL!..n/t

:)

[BadgerKid]

11. Doubt it will fly

The technique would be said to reduce the value of human embryo to one of being a "farm", thereby cheapening the potential value life of that embryo.

[NashVegas]

20. I'm Not a Fundie. Not Religious At All

And human farming is exactly stem cell research, from embryos, looks like to me.

[BadgerKid]

12. Embryo's right to choose?

"No one asked the embryo if it wanted to donate its cells. Since it cannot agree or disagree on its own, the State has an interest in that embryo."

that's my guess at a Fundie's reaction, anyway.

[midnight]

14. The thought and careful storing and handling of embroyes costs

more money than it would to protect children who are homeless. I'm just quessting. But what I'm furious about is that there are so many precious children who are being discarded via crummy healthcare, schools, and housing. We have to do better when combating this insane santity of life argument.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. "when it contains only eight or so cells" = no human at all. They could as well have used ALL cells.

And if you, reading this, are one of those crackpots who believes that undifferentiated blobs of cells can have a soul, listen to this:

YOU ARE INSANE.

[Contrary1]

16. Slightly off topic...

But, did anyone else see the report about harvesting stem cells from the fat in animals? They showed a dog who had degenerate hip bone in his hind leg so bad, that he let it dangle at times, rather than put any weight on it.

The vet removed fat from the dog's own body, sent it off to harvest the stem cells from it, and injected it back into his leg. Four months later, the dog is running and jumping on all fours.

I was amazed. Imagine...if the same can be done on humans.

[IDemo]

17. I'd probably go running and jumping on all fours if they cured the diabetes

[Contrary1]

18. Me too...

Luckily, mine is under control with diet and medication. But, I do wish I could eat many things that I've had to eliminate altogether.

[Ian David]

19. But now it will be argued that they're destroying life AND creating life.

That scientists are taking a tiny, 10-celled person with a soul in it, and creating a second 1-celled person with another soul in it, and destroying one of them.

That is, of course, if you believe in things like souls.