Stem Cells

I'm not sure what to think.

I read on a site that they think of stem cells as:

"little seeds that can grow into and be accepted by organ tissue. They are like a blank microchip that can ultimately be programmed to perform any number of specialized tasks.

Most of the body's specialized cells cannot be replaced by natural processes if they are seriously damaged or diseased. Stem cells can be used to generate healthy and functioning specialized cells, which can then replace diseased or dysfunctional cells, so instead of replacing an entire organ, you can repair damaged, vital parts of the body with cells.

This aids people who are on a donor waiting list, and considering there is no federal pressure to get people to donate their organs once they die, people often die while waiting for a donor who is a match to become available. It also aids people who have injured organs that cannot be donated and accepted, such as a spinal chord."

Blimey, that was long. OK, so it's a piece of their article on stem cells. (Link)

Anyway, the big problem with stem cells is that they can only be taken from embryos and fetuses, because they are a lot more versatile and easier to work with.

So, when you hear people talking about 'killing babies to get to stem cells' what they actually mean to say is 'removing the stem cells from the embryo of a developing baby (if you will)'.

There's a difference between an embryo and a fetus. First, the embryo are (I am lead to believe) is a bunch of cells. They have potential to grow into a new life form, but they have not yet. And since they are not really a creature yet, the idea that your killing something lacks weight.

But, I have just run into a bit of a dilemma - your eliminating something that has the potential to be a human.

For example, you have no idea if what you just took stem cells out of was going to be a brilliant film maker or the next president. Or, for that matter, a psychotic serial killer or someone who gets drunk and kills a bunch of people and him/herself in a massive car crash.

I guess my problem is that we aren't entirely sure what we're removing from the gene pool.

Don't get me wrong, stem cells are great. They can help repair organs, cure blindness (they can grow into corneas), cure diseases, spinal cord injury, and just so many other things. I guess it's just my thrice-damned conscience playing up.