Wow, another touchy issue. For a lot of people, stem cell research presents a lot of hope against some dreaded diseases, and for others a huge moral dilemma on what is and isn't a good source of embryonic stem cells and whether the whole issue is ethically sound. It's an incredible technology, and I think it's great that our race has reached the point that science has learned how to fight some diseases that we previously thought were undefeatable. I'm going to have to take the moral high ground on this one, though. As CastleBee pointed out, the market for body parts is already extremely lucrative (what's a kidney going for now?) and I feel certain that this is a technology that would effectively enable the rich to live forever (or at least much longer.) Our bodies are designed to wear out; joints falter and ache, skin sags and wrinkles, muscle tone goes down the tube-- we're not supposed to live forever. We're incurring diseases and problems with aging Americans that were not issues in the 1800's, but as medicine advanced, the life span was extended. My fear is that, since we are already facing global overpopulation, we're going to run ourselves right off the planet. Also, there is the issue of where to get these stem cells-- what is an acceptable source? Is there an acceptable source? And then the issue of cloning-- as much as I hated the fantasy/sci-fi movie "The Sixth Day," I have to admit that it did raise some interesting issues. I've not been following the issue closely enough to know what technology is available at this date, but one issue that the movie raised was the fact that someone can make a clone of me, put them in my place, and even my own family wouldn't know the difference, as far as what I looked like, etc. Is this a technology that could prove medically useful? Sure. Is it something that most of us are comfortable with? No, not really. And is it okay to play God? That one the verdict's still out on. I think that what we have here is another example of the atomic bomb-- scientists so concerned with "can we do it" that they're not first facing the issue of "should we do it."

I am in no way against research to help solve the major medical problems of our day. But this just seems so sick on a certain level. Just think about it - there now exists a potentially very lucrative market for the body parts (cells) of the aborted and unwanted. Decisions as to whose life is more important or valuable will have to be made. We should think long and hard of the consequences - just because science can accomplish it doesn't always make it the right thing to do. Think about what has already been done with all the futzing around with fertility. Implanting here, using this sperm doner and that egg donor - people will no doubt be inadvertently having children with their brothers and sisters in a few more years! Won't THAT be great! As for clones, well I'm not even ready to think about that one. What a society of self-centered, pathetic freaks we are becoming.

Wow, is this an interesting issue. For those of you who haven't been following, stem cell research involves the potential of human stem cells to be used to fight some of humanity's most terrible diseases: diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimers, to name a few. Stem cells taken from embryos that are just a couple of days old are showing the most potential to be able to adapt themselves to a variety of uses. This of course brings up a number of morality issues: by destroying the embryo, you are of course terminating the development of cells that may have become a human. One of the many ethical discussions that is arising from all of this, is what is an acceptable source for embryonic stem cells? Is it ok to use unwanted embryos from fertility clinics? Is it ok to use discarded fetuses from abortion clinics? Or is it ok, as a private agency is doing in Virginia, to actually create embryos for the express purpose of mining them for stem cells? In an even more complicated development, a group in Massachusetts is attempting to clone human embryos for their harvest of stem cells. Obviously this is an issue that is inciting passionate responses on both sides - from the pro-lifers and from the millions of Americans who have loved ones affected by illnesses that could potentially be cured through stem cell research. Bush's pending decision as to the role that federal funds will play in all of this will make him a lot of enemies - regardless as to what he decides.