Quote:
Originally posted by AKA_Monet
There is a difference between selectively aborted fetal tissue, non-selectively aborted fetal tissue (such as from miscarriages) and cord and placental tissue.
Selectively aborted tissue with existing laws is hard to come by... Within seconds, cells must be isolated upon removal. Normal human cells die quickly and cannot be frozen intact.
Tissues from miscarriages occur because some major and lethal genetic event happened where the female's uterus is unable to support the birth. Currently, those are the cell lines that everyone is working with and talking about.
There are also the unused frozen embryos that cannot be used for any in vitro fertilization because they have been frozen too long. Using those cells are also what are being discussed.
Cord and placental tissue may not be as "pluripotent" or "totipotent" as embryonic stem cells. Meaning, they cannot change into any cells that is missing, malfunctional or damaged.
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Quoting this because I think a lot of people have misconceptions about where stem cells come from (I know I did until I did more research). I know someone who has an 18-month-old boy suffering from Krabbe's disease. His only hope is a stem cell transplant from the umbilical cord of another healthy little boy.
While I admit that some of the things we can do with science to scare the heck out of me, I think if it is used properly, stem cell research can be very beneficial.