Christian groups hail new sources of stem cells.

Christian Group Hails New Ethical Stem Cell Sources
-- Congress Urged to Halt ESCR Funding in View of Life-Honoring
Alternatives

By Bill Fancher
August 26, 2005

(AgapePress) - The discovery of new sources of cells that are
similar to embryonic stem cells in nature has the Christian
Coalition calling on Congress to apply the legislative brakes to
embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR) funding. Researchers are now
saying stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood may allow them
to explore cures for disease without killing human embryos in the
process. An international team of American and British scientists has
informed the public that these embryonic-like cells, which they
term "cord-blood-derived-embryonic like stem cells" or CBEs, have
been shown to exhibit pluripotency -- the ability to transform into
any kind of body tissue, just as embryonic stem cells do. The
researchers have also noted that CBEs could be mass-produced using
technology from NASA.

Also, more recently, Harvard scientists announced possible long-term
successes from research fusing adult skin cells with embryonic stem
cells. This fusion would theoretically lead to the creation of
useful stem cells without first having to create and destroy human
embryos. Based on this latest information, Christian Coalition's Vice
President of Legislative Affairs, Jim Backlin, wants to see U.S.
congressional leaders take action. He says because of these new
developments, his group feels Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
should move to "postpone or cancel the vote scheduled for this fall
on the Castle-DeGette Bill -- we call it the Human Embryo Stem Cell
Destruction Bill."

The Castle-DeGette Bill would fund research on embryonic stem cells
obtained by creating a human embryo, destroying it in the process of
extracting its stem cells, and then discarding the remains. Backlin
hopes to see the legislation scrubbed.

"We feel that there's no need for such a divisive vote," the
Christian Coalition spokesman says, "especially considering that 52
percent of the American people do not want their tax dollars going
for human embryo destruction research." The coalition is mobilizing
its supporters to apply pressure on Senator Frist and other leaders
in Congress in hopes of preventing the controversial vote from
taking place.The discovery of new sources of stem cells that have much the same properties and potential as embryonic stem cells may prove to be a tremendous boon to society at large, and especially to those who have fallen on either the ethics or the medical expediency side of the ESCR debate. Backlin is optimistic that new sources of embryonic-like stem cells will provide what is needed to allow the hunt for cures to go forward without the ethical problem of having to destroy human embryos.


You know I still say if we put proper controls to this I don't see what the problem is. I also dont know why you can't explore all sources of stem cells. Unless maybe I am too personality involved to make an objective statement.

make it out of the womb"

More fodder for *'s war machine.

It's not an embryo, it's a BLASTOCYST - a clump of cells. Anybody who thinks that's a human being is nuts.

my mom has Parkinson's, and my dh's family is riddled with genetic diseases that will KILL HIM in about 20 years unless there is significant progress on stem cell research.

If you ever need parkinsons links, or just to chat pm me. DBS scares the heck out of me. If it's okay can I pray for your mom?

I'll pray for you and yours too.