supeman was my favorite -
 

From: Peter Charles

First off, I'm following media reports on stem cell research that
suggests, directly or implied, that opposition to stem cell research
is rooted in the anti-abortion crusade of the religious right.

I
realize there are other sects and religions opposed to abortion but
the political power rests with evangelic wing of the Republican Party
and that is who I am addressing. If I have that wrong, please correct
me.

I don't believe you're wrong.

That said, since the administration refuses to fund new lines of stem cells,
(they do fund research on 70+ existing lines), why don't the major drug
companies like Phizer, etc, step up to the plate and put the r&d money they get
from the inflated prices they charge for drugs, and provide the funding for new
lines and further research?

Also, stem cells are likely not the holy grail of medicine that many people
seem to think they are. For instance, consider Ronald Reagan. After his death,
there was a great hue and cry regarding how stem cell research would lead to a
cure for Alzhiemer's Disease. However, according to the top Alzhiemer doctors,
the nature of the disease makes it a poor candidate for a stem cell cure, and
this was widely broadcast on the major U.S. networks, hardly bastions of the
religious right.


George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

supeman was my favorite -
 

supeman was my favorite -
 

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 05:17:46 -0600, rw
wrote:

So just what do you think is the motivation behind the people who are
misleading the public? Is it a plot to cause more abortions? Sheesh.

Ask Senator Edwards....

BTW, stem cells do not come from aborted fetuses.
Well there seems to be a difference of opinon here, Peter says this is
a source.

The least promising
ones (for research) come from adults, somewhat more promising ones come
from umbilical cords, and the most promising ones (and the ones that are
causing the controversy) come from excess blastocysts which are produced
in fertility treatments, and that would be otherwise discarded.

I admit to not being up to speed and this thread has presented at
least three explanations of the cell's themselves. I read that a
blastocyst is a fertilized ovum ....so it becomes an issue ones
definitions and here I do not have a clear view.

In fact, if you actually LISTEN to the responsible and knowledgeable
people who call for more stem cell research, they state up front that
treatments are years away. You recently had successful treatment for
cancer, which was wonderful. You looked GREAT at the Western Clave,
Harry. What if, say 30 years ago, we decided not to spend money for
cancer research because treatments were many years away?

speaking as one who has been up close and personal to the terror of
these maladies I am for just about any type of research and stem cell
is included.
I just have some issues about the source and how they are gotten.
This is not to say I'm against it, I just think we should be careful.
But , I'm learning more and more and unlike some here I'm at least
willing it change.


-

supeman was my favorite -
 

Alzheimers might not be the best target, but it is a reasonable target.
Any place central nervous tissue could use replacing, stem cell treatments
might apply. We can keep going--Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, diabetes
(well, that's not nervous tissue, but there's still applications),
retinitis pigmentosa, ....

You also need these cell lines to gain an understanding of how an
undifferentiated cell becomes differentiated. That simple understanding
will open up a whole world of treatments.

Gene therapy. There are a lot of folks who's systems are compromised,
either from birth or afterwards that would benefit from gene therapy.
My daughter has what could be called "genetic scurvy." The only
treatment for this would be gene therapy. Without the stem cell
research, her chances of a long life are very slim. This problem,
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is one of a large group of problems that
are termed "orphan diseases." They are orphaned, because the
researchers put their time in for the most bang for the buck, i.e.
cancer, HIV... One breakthrough in say, collagen gene therapy, could
save thousands with EDS, Marphans, etc.
When a politician makes life or death policy decisions for your family
(specifically death) based upon getting a strong voter turnout in his
favor from some factions, he/she doesn't get my vote.

--
Frank Reid
Reverse Email to reply

supeman was my favorite -
 

Alzheimers might not be the best target, but it is a reasonable target.
Any place central nervous tissue could use replacing, stem cell treatments
might apply. We can keep going--Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, diabetes
(well, that's not nervous tissue, but there's still applications),
retinitis pigmentosa, ....

You also need these cell lines to gain an understanding of how an
undifferentiated cell becomes differentiated. That simple understanding
will open up a whole world of treatments.

Gene therapy. There are a lot of folks who's systems are compromised,
either from birth or afterwards that would benefit from gene therapy.
My daughter has what could be called "genetic scurvy." The only
treatment for this would be gene therapy. Without the stem cell
research, her chances of a long life are very slim. This problem,
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is one of a large group of problems that
are termed "orphan diseases." They are orphaned, because the
researchers put their time in for the most bang for the buck, i.e.
cancer, HIV... One breakthrough in say, collagen gene therapy, could
save thousands with EDS, Marphans, etc.
When a politician makes life or death policy decisions for your family
(specifically death) based upon getting a strong voter turnout in his
favor from some factions, he/she doesn't get my vote.

--
Frank Reid
Reverse Email to reply

supeman was my favorite -
 

Alzheimers might not be the best target, but it is a reasonable target.
Any place central nervous tissue could use replacing, stem cell treatments
might apply. We can keep going--Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, diabetes
(well, that's not nervous tissue, but there's still applications),
retinitis pigmentosa, ....

You also need these cell lines to gain an understanding of how an
undifferentiated cell becomes differentiated. That simple understanding
will open up a whole world of treatments.

Gene therapy. There are a lot of folks who's systems are compromised,
either from birth or afterwards that would benefit from gene therapy.
My daughter has what could be called "genetic scurvy." The only
treatment for this would be gene therapy. Without the stem cell
research, her chances of a long life are very slim. This problem,
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is one of a large group of problems that
are termed "orphan diseases." They are orphaned, because the
researchers put their time in for the most bang for the buck, i.e.
cancer, HIV... One breakthrough in say, collagen gene therapy, could
save thousands with EDS, Marphans, etc.
When a politician makes life or death policy decisions for your family
(specifically death) based upon getting a strong voter turnout in his
favor from some factions, he/she doesn't get my vote.

--
Frank Reid
Reverse Email to reply

supeman was my favorite -
 

"Frank Reid" wrote in message
...
My daughter has what could be called "genetic scurvy." The only treatment
for this would be gene therapy. Without the stem cell research, her
chances of a long life are very slim. This problem, Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome (EDS) is one of a large group of problems that are termed "orphan
diseases."

Your daughter has EDS? I once had a student in a summer program who had type
4...I was the resident medic. What an incredibly sweet girl, nicest sense of
humor and loveliest soul I ever met. But she was wrapped in tissue paper and
strung together with thread. She would dislocate her shoulder and/or elbow
just carrying books, and her wrist would go out if she held hands with
someone and they weren't careful. Even the slightest bump of her shin would
open up the most gawdawful gash. She couldn't even wear socks with tight
bands. I had to treat her several times in the course of the summer: she
would wig out at the injury, hold the edges shut until I came, catch her
breath and calm down, and then we'd go to work taping her back shut again.
She had scars like you wouldn't believe (well, YOU might) all over her legs
and arms.

I've always wondered what happened to her....knowing her and working with
her really enlightened my life. I don't think she is still with us, which is
sad.

--riverman

supeman was my favorite -
 

"Frank Reid" wrote in message
...
My daughter has what could be called "genetic scurvy." The only treatment
for this would be gene therapy. Without the stem cell research, her
chances of a long life are very slim. This problem, Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome (EDS) is one of a large group of problems that are termed "orphan
diseases."

Your daughter has EDS? I once had a student in a summer program who had type
4...I was the resident medic. What an incredibly sweet girl, nicest sense of
humor and loveliest soul I ever met. But she was wrapped in tissue paper and
strung together with thread. She would dislocate her shoulder and/or elbow
just carrying books, and her wrist would go out if she held hands with
someone and they weren't careful. Even the slightest bump of her shin would
open up the most gawdawful gash. She couldn't even wear socks with tight
bands. I had to treat her several times in the course of the summer: she
would wig out at the injury, hold the edges shut until I came, catch her
breath and calm down, and then we'd go to work taping her back shut again.
She had scars like you wouldn't believe (well, YOU might) all over her legs
and arms.

I've always wondered what happened to her....knowing her and working with
her really enlightened my life. I don't think she is still with us, which is
sad.

--riverman

supeman was my favorite -
 

Your daughter has EDS? I once had a student in a summer program who had type
4...I was the resident medic. snipped

I've always wondered what happened to her....knowing her and working with
her really enlightened my life. I don't think she is still with us, which is
sad.

--riverman

Yes, type 4, the same as my daughter. It killed her mother. Type IV is
the deadliest form. Most don't live past their twenties. Its also very
rare in females as it is male dominant (only 1 in 10 are female).
--
Frank Reid
Reverse Email to reply

supeman was my favorite -
 

Frank Reid wrote:
Your daughter has EDS? I once had a student in a summer program who
had type
4...I was the resident medic. snipped

I've always wondered what happened to her....knowing her and working
with her really enlightened my life. I don't think she is still with
us, which is sad.

Yes, type 4, the same as my daughter.

Wow, Frank. The things you learn on Usenet.

Watching a situation such as this as the "protector parent" is the
worst. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope a
cure is in her future.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj