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I have not made the move to texting, much less super smart internet connected phones. Considering the fact that we are engineers, and Justin is pretty much a gadgets and toys enthusiast/maker (to me at least), this seems strange. But I really don't feel the desire to text. I have never initiated a texting conversation (*exception below), but I have replied to them. I feel compelled to use correct english, none of that abbreviations and lolspeak.
In regards to the smart phones... there's never really a time when I feel I need the internet when I'm not in a building with a computer.
*During hurricane evacuations, however, texts have a higher probability of making it through the system than voicemails or actual calls. If we have to do so this year, I will once again request communications through text
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I had four things going against me today. 1) sore from work out yesterday 2) achey from poor night of sleep 3) weak from donating blood 4) headache. I was very glad when the workday was done. Tomorrow surely will be better. It will include a potluck luncheon!
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E-mail participant Benno's answer to yesterday's question was "Stem cell research makes me nervous." I'm with him on this one.
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Today's Question of the Day? is:
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What are your thoughts and feelings on stem cell research?
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Your favorite The Asker
10 comments:
I don't like the idea of research being done on embryonic stem cells, that goes against my Catholic beliefs as well as my Mommy heart. The thought that people are taking parts of a baby to experiment on makes me sad. (Yes, I know they're not lopping off an arm or something, it still makes me sad.)
I have not ever worked with stem cells, but I worked extensively with Chinese Hamster Ovarian cells, which are a standard tissue line available commerically. I have also harvested tissue cells from live animals, a task that I found incredibly difficult to do while maintaining a sterile enviroment, as I had very shaky, sweaty hands. Clearly this was an overwhelming endeavor for me.
I remember the PETA demonstrations that would sometimes occur. The activists would contend that people needed to protect their pets from research scientists, as if we regularly left the labs in the middle of the night and went out to snatch up little kitties and puppies.
There is valuable information that animal work gives us. The insights that come from animal tissue cells is vast. And the potential benefits that stem cell research can provide is meaningful to many people.
I support research science wholehearted.
I left off the -ly. wholeheartedly.
I do have one additional comment to make.
The problem with stem cell research is not the research, or even really the means by which stem cells are harvested.
The problem lies within the value and importance of reproduction and reproduction rights. Many of the stem cell lines are derived from frozen embryos for which people have decided they have no present or future use. These embryos can be used for research purposes, discarded, or kept frozen at a cost to the owners. I would say that ANY of those options must present an unpleasant thought process for the owners.
I have watched several friends and family members struggle with infertility issues. Most of them chose to take any and all measures possible to produce a child, because the option is available.
But my cousin's wife, Tammy, was the one who gets my respect. With a very heavy heart, so chose to NOT take any artificial methods to conceive. She did not want to leave behind a stash of embryos. She did not want to risk a multiple pregnancy and potentially have to abort some fetuses. She repected the fact that God had a different plan for her. She and Ken are now parents to beautiful twin girls!
I'm all for responsible stem cell research. There are many ways to do this without using human embryos.
As for embryonic stemm cell research: The embryos that remain after fertility treatments are not, in my opinion "life". Even if people were to borrow embryos from others and have them implanted for their own fertility treatment, never could all the ones that are created become babies. I think George W Bush once had a bunch of children, who were created from "discarded" embryos stand behind him while he signed a law- essentially saying "these are the people you want to kill". But embryonic stem cell research isn't killing people- it's working with a cell that realistically doesn't have potential to become a person.
I don't understand the concept of "playing God" with this sort of research- but that it's okay to use fertility treatments to help conceive in the first place. It seems that you can pick and choose when you want to play God.
I have to say I'm a little bit biased because I have some nerve damage that could potentially be very helped by stem cell research, and while it's not bad right now, it has the potential to be. Without further advances, I'm going to have a very difficult old age. I'm not at all looking forward to it.
Yeah, I am confused, because I think there are lots of stem cells besides embryonic stem cells they could use. I might be wrong though.
There are over 1500 children in HARRIS COUNTY ALONE who are available for adoption right now. Not to foster, but to adopt. That's lots of unwanted kids. =(
There are many different ways to harvest stem cells, and not all are embryonic. The embryonic cells offer a wider variety of options for research and potential cures than, say, bone marrow harvesting.
They have now begun to start stem cell lines by taking just one cell from an embryo, which is deemed more "ethical" as it does no future harm to the development of the embryo.
But I will restate what skittl said...these are embryos that do not have a realistic potential for full development.
I think the ethical question lies in the intial creation of all of those embryos. The ethics of what to do with those embryos is limited to three choices and using them for curing diseases seems the least offensive to me.
I guess I should add that although I'm against the use of embryonic stem cells, I'm wholeheartedly for the use of other stem cells.
It took us over a year to get pregnant with Annelise and John and I had decided that if we couldn't conceive without the implantation of embryos, we would instead adopt. Again, it goes against my beliefs; I believe that if God meant for us to have children we would conceive on our own, otherwise we were meant adopt or not have kids at all. We were very blessed to be given our sweet baby girl and I hope we have another baby in a couple of years. If not, we may adopt. I have several cousins who are 'test tube babies', but that wasn't right for us. We decided that we would much rather take in children who are already in the world and need loving homes than go to a lab and have a baby made for us. Plus, I know people who had in-vitro done and are now struggling with what to do with the leftover embryos. That is not a decision to be made lightly, so we chose to remove ourselves from the situation.
I can appreciate the technology and feel that, obviously, the research and possibilities that can come from stem cells. However, I’m not confident with my opinion and remain irresolute. On the one hand, I strongly oppose abortion and feel at times like endorsing embryonic stem cell research is almost crediting abortion -- which I in no way intend to do. On the other hand, we live in a nation where abortion is legal and is occurring, so it almost seems selfish to toss away potential to save lives of those who were lucky enough to be given life. It’s incredibly tragic to me how embryonic stem cells are obtained, but would it be a waste for people who could possibly benefit from this research? And then a part of me still says no, that saying that a dead human being can “be used” for anything almost hurts to say. On the one hand there’s organ donation, which I am all for, but then I cannot help but see a similarity between this and the work Mengele did. We do not condone this, because we have a respect for the human body, regardless if they “were going to be killed anyway”. Obviously, I am quite conflicted on an issue that I should be better educated in and hold a firmer opinion for.
Of course, the question addressed stem cell research in general, so I will go ahead and confidently say that, yes, I am for adult stem cell research.
That was long, and I definitely should have proofread ... but it's early for a college student and wrote that with scattered thoughts. You get the idea.
I don't consider zygotes human, so stem cell research is perfectly ethical. Article on trashing embryos. I think research on insensate single-celled organisms is worth helping real, billion-celled ex-womb humans.
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