tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951639121853262790.post324787787905612811..comments2023-11-15T20:27:34.038-06:00Comments on Bubble of Sanity: Willful IgnoranceBruce Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836035281793854900noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951639121853262790.post-18134586952544819042009-04-01T15:34:00.000-06:002009-04-01T15:34:00.000-06:00To "Anonymous"I'm still not sure how to directly a...To "Anonymous"<BR/><BR/>I'm still not sure how to directly answer a response to a post, so I hope this will do. <BR/><BR/>First, thanks for your intelligent response. I learned more from your post than I have learned from two years of searching through the media trying to find out about stem cell research.<BR/><BR/>No, I'm not in the medical field. That's another reason I thank you for posting.<BR/><BR/>I obviously am "pro-life" and have a moral objection to embryonic stem cell research, but I have no objection whatsoever to stem cell research itself.<BR/><BR/>I find your response measured, informed, and extremely helpful. I wish the national debate over stem cell research -- on both sides -- would approach the problem as authoritatively and with as much emotional detachment as you have shown in your response.<BR/><BR/>If you have a blog site, I would be interested in reading it.<BR/><BR/>-- Bruce Parsons "Bubble of Sanity"BParsonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11119937473472868131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951639121853262790.post-82739752814469423662009-04-01T09:38:00.000-06:002009-04-01T09:38:00.000-06:00Your take on this is interesting. I can't tell if ...Your take on this is interesting. I can't tell if you're in the medical field or not. Having been in the Adult stem cell field (cord blood specifically) let me see if I can shed some additional light on the subject for your readers.<BR/><BR/>First - embryonic and cord blood stem cells are not the same cell. Embryonic cells have "differentiated" and been assigned very specific tasks. Mostly tissue based. Adult cells have not differentiated and consequently have not been assigned specific tasks. In theory they should be more flexible.<BR/><BR/>Cord blood stem cells are primarily blood cells. They are however immunologically immature. A mature adult stem cell has been populated with our invidividual protein "markers" which makes them difficult to transplant. Cord Blood stem cells don't have these markers therefore making them far easier to transplant and far more flexible in use.<BR/><BR/>While the conversation about embryonic stem cells seems to center on "saving people" from the left and the religious outcry from the right no one is really talking about the science of the embryonic cell.<BR/><BR/>The challenge for scientists is that embryonic stem cells are immortal. This is also the number one indentifier for a cancer cell. Until scientists can find the "on/off" switch for the embryonic cell it will never make it off the bench because it is cancerous. The FDA, nor any responsible governing body, is going to allow the use of cells for in-human therapy that could cause cancer.<BR/><BR/>This debate will rage on until the science is clearly vetted and everyone understands the challenges. Both sides are playing the emotional cards, not the science.<BR/><BR/>And by the way, in 2005 the government passed a bill and appropriated $80 million dollars from taxpayers to build the National Cord Blood Inventory. The is to build an inventory of 150,000 cord blood units stored in 8-10 cord blood banks around the country. I bet none of your readers know this passed under President Bush's watch!<BR/><BR/>People need to read, learn, discuss before taking sides.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com