The Unconscionable Claims of Michael J. Fox

[dani_christine 0]

actually, let me clarify:

this is from Wikipedia:

In organisms that reproduce sexually, once a sperm fertilizes an egg cell, the result is a cell called the zygote that has all the DNA of two parents. In plants, animals, and some protists, the zygote will begin to divide by mitosis to produce a multicellular organism. The term embryo refers to the early stages of this development, after the zygote has divided at least once, but before the process has completed to produce the next stage of development.

In animals, the development of the zygote into an embryo proceeds through specific recognizable stages of morula, blastula, and gastrula. This process involves the creating of a hollow sphere of cells in which three tissue layers develop.

most often, the embryos are frozen when they are 5-day-old blastocysts. they have completely different DNA than either their father or their mother. they are most definitely human (and not plants or animals). can they survive on their own? definitely not. however, neither can the patients in any ICU in any hospital in america. that alone, is not the definition of 'life'.

[Reba 2]

so what's better for an unused IVF zygote, to be tossed in the hazardous waste bin because its not going to be implanted into a womb, or to have those cells possibly further medical science and be useful?

If you value life, I'd say the second choice is the most respectful. To just toss it in the garbage is wasteful. But that's just my opinion as someone who would need to use IVF in order to conceive, and someone who has seen the effect of nasty diseases like Parkinson's and Altzhiemers.

[Reba 2]

sorry for the double post...the connection seems a bit wonky this afternoon

Edited October 26, 2006 by Reba

[dani_christine 0]

as i said before, the issue is really not these embryos who are created for IVF. the issue is the cloning of these embryos.

really...if the scientists were to have access to the 400,000 cryopreserved embryos currently in the US...well, that supply would be QUICKLY diminished. this is why they want to clone these embryos...so that they can have an unlimited supply of babies with which to experiment.

and by the way...this is a very personal issue for me, too...as my husband and i have been dealing with infertility for a year and a half now, and are nearing the time when we may have to choose between IVF and adoption.

[Reba 2]

I"m sorry you're dealing with infertility. I've known for about 18 years now that I'll never concieve by normal means.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I don't see the cells in a petri dish as anything more than that. They're not babies IMO.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

the majority of the american public is too lazy or too stupid to research for themselves and would prefer to listen to "celebrities". that's the whole point.

oh but that is what they are for! to read and understand such convoluted topics so they can appear on tv between movies and keep us all informed

(yes, that was sarcasm)

um...a cluster of cells isn't a "pre-embryo"

a sperm and an egg are "pre-embryos", i suppose.

Sure it is. That's the kind of thing they want to use.

if that is what they want, i'm sure i can donate some damp sheets for them

[MrMrsKnight 0]

My grandpa has the disease. If you ask him to hold his own cup and make him aware that if he shakes too much, he'll spill everything, he'll still shake.... but he'll be capable of holding it without letting anything drop. If you just give him a cup and tell him to hold it, he'll won't make any effort and will end up making a mess.

I think that can actually explain why he never went out of the frame of the camera.

[Marc and Olga 0]

the majority of the american public is too lazy or too stupid to research for themselves and would prefer to listen to "celebrities". that's the whole point.

oh but that is what they are for! to read and understand such convoluted topics so they can appear on tv between movies and keep us all informed

(yes, that was sarcasm)

um...a cluster of cells isn't a "pre-embryo"

a sperm and an egg are "pre-embryos", i suppose.

Sure it is. That's the kind of thing they want to use.

if that is what they want, i'm sure i can donate some damp sheets for them

uh

EW

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Just because he "thinks" that is will provide a cure isn't reason to force the government into paying for "embryonic" stem cell research. Stem cell research is legal and widespread. Major advances have been made without making new embryos. Others have been doing research with embryos without any success. I find it odd that Mr Fox (who I like very much both as an actor and a person) would condone his name and reputation being put on the line in a way that will damage him like this.

"Force" is a bit of an exaggeration is it not? He's merely expressing his opinion as part of the current democratic process. What I find hard to understand is why Fox is being singled out on this particular issue, when it is little different to the strategies that both parties have consistently engaged in.

He's taking a stand on this issue because he thinks it will benefit him and others with similar conditions. I don't see why that is so unacceptable.

The plain fact is that embryonic stem cell research is proving to be a bust. There are currently 72 therapies showing human benefits using adult stem cells and zero using embryonic stem cells. Scientifically-minded readers can review this medical journal article on the status of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell therapies are already being advertised and promoted while no such treatments are even remotely in prospect for embryonic stem cell research.

That perhaps has something to do with the fact that funding for embryonic stem cell research (not to mention the research programmes themselves) has been severely restricted. For political reasons I might add. A number of public polls actually show broad support for the policy. A shame the Republican administration has chosen this issue as a means of pandering to their core "bible belt" supporters.

How someone can conclude that a relatively unexplored field of science has little or no value, is beyond me

Edited October 27, 2006 by erekose

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Is it unconscionable when Nancy Reagan does it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3700015.stm

Nancy Reagan plea on stem cells

Ronald Reagan is suffering the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease

Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan has urged the Bush administration to support embryonic stem cell research.

Mrs Reagan said too much time had been wasted already discussing the issue.

She is said to believe the research could lead to a cure for Alzheimer's disease, which has afflicted her husband, Ronald Reagan.

The Bush administration has blocked public funding of this type of research because of his party's ethical reservations about embryo research.

At a fundraising dinner for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Hollywood, Mrs Reagan said her husband was now in "a distant place where I can no longer reach him".

"I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this... We have lost so much time already. I just really can't bear to lose any more."

She said she believed stem cell research "may provide our scientists with many answers that for so long have been beyond our grasp".

It is thought to be the first time that Mrs Reagan has made a public speech on the issue, although her views have long been known.

Political debate

Mrs Reagan is the latest high-profile figure to criticise the Bush administration for its decision to limit funding for stem cell research.

Actor Michael J. Fox praised Mrs Reagan for "taking the issue out of politics"

Former Superman actor Christopher Reeve, left severely disabled following a riding accident, and actor Michael J. Fox, who is suffering from Parkinson's disease, have both criticised the Bush administration for blocking research which they believe could improve their conditions.

Currently federal funds are not available for this type of work.

Mr Bush has told scientists he will not release US taxpayers' money for the production or investigation of new lines because it involves the destruction of human embryos.

Correspondents say that with the Bush administration and anti-abortion groups strongly opposed to stem cell research, Mrs Reagan's comments add a powerful conservative Republican voice to the debate.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Is it unconscionable when Nancy Reagan does it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3700015.stm

Nancy Reagan plea on stem cells

Ronald Reagan is suffering the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease

Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan has urged the Bush administration to support embryonic stem cell research.

Mrs Reagan said too much time had been wasted already discussing the issue.

She is said to believe the research could lead to a cure for Alzheimer's disease, which has afflicted her husband, Ronald Reagan.

The Bush administration has blocked public funding of this type of research because of his party's ethical reservations about embryo research.

At a fundraising dinner for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Hollywood, Mrs Reagan said her husband was now in "a distant place where I can no longer reach him".

"I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this... We have lost so much time already. I just really can't bear to lose any more."

She said she believed stem cell research "may provide our scientists with many answers that for so long have been beyond our grasp".

It is thought to be the first time that Mrs Reagan has made a public speech on the issue, although her views have long been known.

Political debate

Mrs Reagan is the latest high-profile figure to criticise the Bush administration for its decision to limit funding for stem cell research.

Actor Michael J. Fox praised Mrs Reagan for "taking the issue out of politics"

Former Superman actor Christopher Reeve, left severely disabled following a riding accident, and actor Michael J. Fox, who is suffering from Parkinson's disease, have both criticised the Bush administration for blocking research which they believe could improve their conditions.

Currently federal funds are not available for this type of work.

Mr Bush has told scientists he will not release US taxpayers' money for the production or investigation of new lines because it involves the destruction of human embryos.

Correspondents say that with the Bush administration and anti-abortion groups strongly opposed to stem cell research, Mrs Reagan's comments add a powerful conservative Republican voice to the debate.

No it isn't. She has a right to an opinion and a non-political personal investment in the outcome.