The Future of S(kin)TEM cells
After reviewing my notes on events that have occurred this past year, I have seen how far we have come in all aspects from a tragedy of flames to success in our most pressing scientific goals. Just this month, a committee of genetic researchers revolutionized Stem Cell research by using a genetically modified sample of skin cells to be able to morph into any of 220 bodily cells. Proof of viability includes a piece of cardiac muscle that was artificially grown using these new stem cells, which did beat. Analyze exactly what this could mean. For years, great men such as Christopher Reeve, who have been effected by tragic accidents, have supported foundations in the purpose of utilizing the technology to help mankind.
Though it is too late for him, what do you think will happen regarding the future of Stem Cell Research, and cloning. Talk about advantages, disadvantages, corruption, laws, restrictions etc. [i.e., legalization of cloning?]
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hey i just wanted to get in on this topic because it is in a field that i am interested in and i wanted to express my feelings in a simple and formidable manner: IT’s AWESOME! I believe that this discovery will take the whole religious/political aspect of killing God’s creations out of the equation. Now there is only the aspect of playing God. With this new discovery and new discoveries sure to come we will most likely be able to increase our life spans and cure the most incurable diseases so should we be able to do this? I believe that we are dealing with very dangerous research. If you think about it wouldn’t this research just make the problem of over-population even worse than it already is? Is the prospect of creating everlasting life and renewing old life worth the consequences? Should we take out the limiting factor of death in our world conquest of all availabale space on this Earth? Who knows I don’t but i will pursue my goal of discovering how to live forever.
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Well, Jose, there is no way to preserve life for such a many years as we hope. Imagine if we could clone a human being. First of, if you are 20, it would take another 20 years for that clone to be your age, since we cannot artificially enhance the growth of cells to that extent yet. Second, you would need to isolate the clone to match the same exact lifestyle you went through as a child to adult to get the same outcome, which is impossible to do. Third, it would not have the same memories, feelings, or knowledge. If we could transfer memory into another being, then its brain would not be able to contain it considering you would have double the amount of memories you should have had when you were the age of the clone. Its all theoretical.
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Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could inject nanites into the body that would artificially heal every part of the organ system? But then, i suppose life wouldn’t be worth living if you couldn’t learn from your mistakes.
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Creating artificial life is a little scary. I remember last year in bio Mr. Reta was talking about how scientists were “playing God”. I’m sure that sometime in the possibly near future, a scientist will announce that he has created the world’s first cloned human. This will raise a lot of controversy though. Cloning is so much more than a scientific issue- it has to do with our morals as well. Should we be using science to create artificial life? For me, I’m not sure where to stand on this issue becuase each side has it’s own separate and persuasive arguement.
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If you consider all the things we already do, then you’d come to see how we already do play
a lot of roles which we attribute to “god”. Look at hospitals, all that doctors do is play “god” and delay the inevitable death. There are children born every day that possess more
than four limbs, or no appendages; nose, ears, faces,etc; aren’t we playing “god” when our
doctors fix this birth-feature that everyone considers an “error”? If we are truly made in
God’s image, then why is that defect an error, why not consider it a blessed/special child?
eh, that sounds weird.
Most people would agree that the ability to successfully clone a human is a grave power.
If you read the comment I made under Jose’s, you’ll see that even if someone cloned a man
such as Hitler, you would need to isolate his entire life and mimic the exact same events
that the original Hitler experienced to give the clone Hitler’s mindset. On the other hand
of the issue, the problem with this is that it would seriously give the world a
mass-population problem. When thinking about cloning, we should not ask “Do we have the
right to play god”, but more of the question, “Should any one man or organization have that
much power”.
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Also, if you read the last lines of the post, i say “what do you think will happen regarding the future of Stem Cell Research, and cloning. Talk about advantages, disadvantages, corruption, laws, restrictions etc”
I asked you for your input in these areas, though I did say etc… I clarify that now by saying do not talk about religion in your comment. I want to get your opinion, not your religion’s perspective on the idea.
Whatever position you have on this topic, the purpose of this specific post was to gain the individual insight on the SCIENTIFIC efforts of the achievement. This should have nothing at all to do with that type of religious-talk, it is completely science related and the morals behind scientific achievement, therefore, I kindly ask you all to leave “god”’s opinion at the Homepage.
Seems Harsh, but if it was too harsh then Eldridge wouldn’t let me post this comment.
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