Hello Someday,
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Originally Posted by Someday
I don't see a real difference between using cybrids that have 100% human DNA vs using any other human embryo for this type of research. If there is a difference, say the stem cells produced are somehow not quite human, this would alter my thought on this considerably, and I would especially be horrified at such cybrid research in particular. I wonder what PETA's take is on all of this?
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BBC news had a page with some info on what types of hybrids can be created now:
BBC NEWS | Health | Embryology Bill: The key points
If I read your post correctly, it does include the mixed DNA hybrids you find horrific. What is it you find so particularly horrific about e. g. the example on the BBC page, of DNA from a human skin cell being implanted into an animal embryo, creating a slightly mixed hybrid? Or what if it resulted in a 50-50% DNA hybrid? A person can do without a skin cell. What would be so wrong to use a small group of animal cells, that don't have the nervous system yet to feel anything going on? We grow animals to slaughter for our food (which you may find somewhat objectionable too, as I sanctimoniously do, but it's very broadly accepted). Why can't we use them in a far less hurtful way to grow our knowledge of how nature works?
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Originally Posted by Someday
I personally would have no involvement in such endeavors. Adult stem cells, present in most if not all specialized organs, have evolved as cells for repair. That is their purpose, and they successfully achieve this in many ways. That is a line of research I can endorse. It seems to me that while embryonic stem cell research has been ongoing for some time, inducible pluripotent stem cell research is only beginning to be explored. Why not embrace this newer technology? |
I don't know too much detail about the various kinds of stem cell research. I do know that hybrid embryonic stem cell research is very new. UK researchers recently were the first to have created some hybrids. It's a line of research that scientists say is very promising and is as yet almost completely unexplored. Why not explore both the method you mention as well as hybrid embryos, each method for the areas in which it seems most promising? Same for other methods.
greets,
Peter