FDA Approves Embryonic Stem Cell Experiments on Humans

Teratomas - tumors that arise from what are essenitally partially differentiated stem cells

As South Dakota considers repealing the state ban on embryonic stem cell research, this issue is receiving more and more attention on a national level.

President Obama came to the White House last month carrying the campaign promise that he would reverse President Bushs 2001 ban on taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research (except for a few specific lines of embryonic stem cells already harvested).

The fact that Obama has not yet done so is a matter of consternation for those eager to destroy innocent human life in the hopes that stem cells derived from them might, maybe, someday cure various diseases in other humans. There may be some eagerness for those tax dollars and research grants, too.

Even as some work to put the taxpayers on the hook for this destruction of innocent human life and to lift state bans, adult stem cell research has for a number of years been producing successful treatments for various illnesses and injuries. These includemeningitis-relatedlimb damage, brain injury, stroke, retinaregeneration, heart tissueregeneration,angina,diabetes, bone cancer, nerve regeneration,cerebral palsy,cartilage regeneration, Parkinsons,kidney damage,liver cancer, lupus,multiple sclerosis,and leukemia.

Adult stem cell therapy also doesnt have the same treatment issues ESC does. It also doesnt involve the destruction of innocent human life, because the stem cells are taken from various areas of the persons own body.

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research involves the harvesting of stem cells from human embryos. In the process, the human embryo is destroyed.

ESC also faces serious problems such as tissue rejection, the same tissue rejection seen in organ transplant recipients who must remain on ant-rejection drugs the rest of their lives to prevent their body from rejecting the foreign tissue.

ESC also has a problem with tumors. It seems ESC has a tendency to produce tumors in recipients of the embryonic stem cells.

An editorial at Investors Business Daily yesterday examines this problem.

Excerpt from:
FDA Approves Embryonic Stem Cell Experiments on Humans