Babies in stem cell probe

[Heracles 417]

Ukraine babies in stem cell probe

Healthy new-born babies may have been killed in Ukraine to feed a flourishing international trade in stem cells, evidence obtained by the BBC suggests.

Disturbing video footage of post-mortem examinations on dismembered tiny bodies raises serious questions about what happened to them.

This does not sound good at all.

[dani_christine 0]

absolutely frightening.

but hey, as long as Michael J Fox is able to stop shaking and make Back to the Future part 26, well...it's all worth it, right?

[rclouse 0]

From what I understand, stem cells can't be harvested from babies, only from embryos or perhaps a fetus. By the time a baby is born, the stem cells have been turned into the specific cells necessary for the baby's organs and such.

I'd want to see more reports on this before taking it seriously.

[Sinergy 3]

From what I understand, stem cells can't be harvested from babies, only from embryos or perhaps a fetus. By the time a baby is born, the stem cells have been turned into the specific cells necessary for the baby's organs and such.

I'd want to see more reports on this before taking it seriously.

agreed

and btw, i dont think i want to see michael j fox do another back to the future

[Thingee 0]

Stem cells can also be harvested via the umbilical cord upon birth.

[Heracles 417]

I would like to see Democrats look into the following..

Disturbing video footage of post-mortem examinations on dismembered tiny bodies raises serious questions about what happened to them.

[Reynaldo 0]

I would like to see Democrats look into the following..

Disturbing video footage of post-mortem examinations on dismembered tiny bodies raises serious questions about what happened to them.

To a doctored video about something as stupid as "Harvesting stem cells from babies"?

I would like to see that too.

And you actually believe in those things, don't you?

[Heracles 417]

Why is it that anything that shows the other side of stem cell research is wrong?

If another civilized species was to examine humans they would be shocked by our disregard of life to survive and our brutality of throwing unborn babies away, aka abortion, and calling it pro-choice..

Edited December 12, 2006 by Infidel

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

I was curious because something didn't sound right, so I checked out the BBC website for more info. Here's the quote:

Ukraine babies in stem cell probe

Healthy new-born babies may have been killed in Ukraine to feed a flourishing international trade in stem cells, evidence obtained by the BBC suggests.

Disturbing video footage of post-mortem examinations on dismembered tiny bodies raises serious questions about what happened to them.

Ukraine has become the self-styled stem cell capital of the world.

There is a trade in stem cells from aborted foetuses, amid unproven claims they can help fight many diseases.

But now there are claims that stem cells are also being harvested from live babies.

Wall of silence

The BBC has spoken to mothers from the city of Kharkiv who say they gave birth to healthy babies, only to have them taken by maternity staff.

In 2003 the authorities agreed to exhume around 30 bodies of foetuses and full-term babies from a cemetery used by maternity hospital number six.

One campaigner was allowed into the autopsy to gather video evidence. She has given that footage to the BBC and Council of Europe.

In its report, the Council describes a general culture of trafficking of children snatched at birth, and a wall of silence from hospital staff upwards over their fate.

The pictures show organs, including brains, have been stripped - and some bodies dismembered.

A senior British forensic pathologist says he is very concerned to see bodies in pieces - as that is not standard post-mortem practice.

It could possibly be a result of harvesting stem cells from bone marrow.

Hospital number six denies the allegations.

Something else you might want to read while forming your opinion...

FAQ - Stem Cell Information from the National Institute of Health

Basic Questions

1.

What are human embryonic stem cells?

Stem cells are cells that have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells for as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each "daughter" cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

A more detailed primer on stem cells can be found at Stem Cell Basics.

2.

What classes of stem cells are there?

There are three classes of stem cells: totipotent, multipotent, and pluripotent.

* A fertilized egg is considered totipotent, meaning that its potential is total; it gives rise to all the different types of cells in the body.

* Stem cells that can give rise to a small number of different cell types are generally called multipotent.

* Pluripotent stem cells can give rise to any type of cell in the body except those needed to develop a fetus.

3.

Where do stem cells come from?

Pluripotent stem cells are isolated from human embryos that are a few days old. Cells from these embryos can be used to create pluripotent stem cell "lines" —cell cultures that can be grown indefinitely in the laboratory. Pluripotent stem cell lines have also been developed from fetal tissue obtained from fetal tissue (older than 8 weeks of development).

4.

Why do scientists want to use stem cell lines?

Once a stem cell line is established from a cell in the body, it is essentially immortal, no matter how it was derived. That is, the researcher using the line will not have to go through the rigorous procedure necessary to isolate stem cells again. Once established, a cell line can be grown in the laboratory indefinitely and cells may be frozen for storage or distribution to other researchers.

Stem cell lines grown in the lab provide scientists with the opportunity to "engineer" them for use in transplantation or treatment of diseases. For example, before scientists can use any type of tissue, organ, or cell for transplantation, they must overcome attempts by a patient's immune system to reject the transplant. In the future, scientists may be able to modify human stem cell lines in the laboratory by using gene therapy or other techniques to overcome this immune rejection. Scientists might also be able to replace damaged genes or add new genes to stem cells in order to give them characteristics that can ultimately treat diseases.

There are more FAQ on that site, but I would suggest reading it to be more clued up on stem cell research before deciding what you think of the BBC article.

Just a suggestion

Edited December 12, 2006 by WifeOHunkyJohn

[garya505 2]

Why is it that anything that shows the other side of stem cell research is wrong?

If another civilized species was to examine humans they would be shocked by our disregard of life to survive and our brutality of throwing unborn babies away, aka abortion, and calling it pro-choice..

You got that right, but some people will never understand it.

[Reynaldo 0]

Why is it that anything that shows the other side of stem cell research is wrong?

If another civilized species was to examine humans they would be shocked by our disregard of life to survive and our brutality of throwing unborn babies away, aka abortion, and calling it pro-choice..

You got that right, but some people will never understand it.

Amen

[Alex+R 0]

Why is it that anything that shows the other side of stem cell research is wrong?

If another civilized species was to examine humans they would be shocked by our disregard of life to survive and our brutality of throwing unborn babies away, aka abortion, and calling it pro-choice..

You got that right, but some people will never understand it.

Amen

[Mags 112]

absolutely frightening.

but hey, as long as Michael J Fox is able to stop shaking and make Back to the Future part 26, well...it's all worth it, right?

I don't think Michael J Fox advocates NEW BORN babies being murdered. Damn, why do people have to put him down all the time? I'm not his greatest fan but sheesh, give the man a break.

[Reynaldo 0]

absolutely frightening.

but hey, as long as Michael J Fox is able to stop shaking and make Back to the Future part 26, well...it's all worth it, right?

I don't think Michael J Fox advocates NEW BORN babies being murdered. Damn, why do people have to put him down all the time? I'm not his greatest fan but sheesh, give the man a break.

I don't think he advocates that either, but basically because stem cells research has nothing to do with it.

[Mags 112]

absolutely frightening.

but hey, as long as Michael J Fox is able to stop shaking and make Back to the Future part 26, well...it's all worth it, right?

I don't think Michael J Fox advocates NEW BORN babies being murdered. Damn, why do people have to put him down all the time? I'm not his greatest fan but sheesh, give the man a break.

I don't think he advocates that either, but basically because stem cells research has nothing to do with it.

I just felt it was inappropriate to bring him up. AND in the mocking context with which it was spoken. It really pissed me off to be honest.

I don't know why. I'm not a member of the Michael J Fox fan club...perhaps I should join.