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M.W.
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The Stem Cell Debate
Hokay, I’m gonna write this. I’m gonna regret it, but I think most people still don’t get it, so I’m gonna write it anyway.
Stem Cells.
Stem Cells are cells which have the potential to become several different kinds of tissue. Signals and chemicals which we don’t yet understand affect these cells, and, in response, they “differentiate” and become a more specific kind of cell which can then only reproduce as that kind of cell.
“Stem Cell technology is outlawed in the US.”
This is a contemptible lie.
As far as the news is concerned, there are two kinds of stem cells. Adult stem cells are cells that are in full-grown human beings, but could still become different types of tissue. The best example are hematopoetic stem cells, which are cells that live in your bone marrow and make all the different kinds of cells in your blood. A hematopoetic stem cell receiving a signal could divide, and the divided cell would be either a red cell (erythrocyte) or a neutrophil, leukocyte, etc.etc., while the “original” hematopoetic stem cell waits for the next signal. However, hematopoetic stem cells could NOT become lung cells, liver cells, kidney cells, etc. There are already “common” treatments involving hematopoetic stem cells. It’s called “bone marrow transplant.” The bone marrow cells are hematopoetic stem cells.
OK, “_Fetal_ stem cell technology is outlawed in the US.”
This is a contemptible lie.
Fetal stem cells are the stem cells formed back when you’re only a handful of generic tissue. Depending on the signal, these cells could form any of the next set of stem cells that then form all the tissues of the body. However, the signaling for fetal stem cells is even more difficult to figure out than those for the adult stem cells. There are currently (unless my knowledge is out of date) no clinical uses for fetal stem cells. Fetal stem cells have greater “potential” for uses because they could become any tissue in the body, but it’s in the same way that hydrogen has greater “potential” as a nuclear fuel source. If we smash enough hydrogen atoms together just right in atomic fusion, we could create any isotope of uranium or plutonium we want. However, it’ll probably be easier just to refine uranium or plutonium, and take what we get. To be fair, some tissue types are only accessable from the fetal stem cell level.
OK, “Fetal stem cell _research_ is outlawed in the US.”
This is a contemptible lie.
If you want to do fetal stem cell research, research into what signals cause what response and what differentiation in human fetal stem cells, you order yourself some stem cells, and start your work. The cops will not show up on your doorstep. (Well, they will if you don’t have sufficient accreditation, same as if I ordered six hundred gallons of cell culture medium to my parent’s house out in the suburbs. Some purchases HAVE to be looked into.)
OK, “Fetal stem cell _line creation_ is outlawed in the US.”
This lie is less contemptible, but is contemptible nonetheless.
Line creation is the initial culturing of a cell line for use by the research world. For example, there are three “lines” of the sickle cell mouse. This means that three different research groups, in three different labs, started from scratch and created the genetic mutation mice which have sickle cell anemia. (One’s the “Berkley” mouse, one’s the “Birmingham” mouse, and I forget the third.) Each one is slightly different. If you want to do research with the sickle mice, you submit your petition for research with the appropriate authorities (to be sure the animals are properly cared for and the government doesn’t come down on you for abuse) and you order some of the animals from whichever line, and start your work.
Line creation for fetal stem cells involves the destruction of a human fetus, mostly ‘cause you tear the fetus apart into individual cells and “immortalize” (make the cells so they’ll keep growing and reproducing rather than die after a certain number of doublings) them. Now they grow as a culture, and not into a human being.
Some people have moral issues with this.
BUT it is NOT outlawed in the US. There are (IIRC) nine human fetal cell lines. Again, all slightly different. Most procedures could be tested with animal fetal cell lines first before moving on to the more expensive human cell lines. What IS outlawed is using government grant money to do it.
Finally, the true statement:
“_Government funding_ for fetal stem cell line creation is outlawed in the US.”
Those paying close attention will realize that this means not only are all the other forms of stem cell research not outlawed, but you’re actually able to get GOVERNMENT GRANT money to study them with.
And if you want to start a new fetal cell line, all you have to do is do it without government money. Like private foundation funding, or corporation money, or anything like that.
Essentially, since some people have moral issues with the destruction of a human fetus, George Bush said that, while creation of human fetal cell lines would not be outlawed, taxpayer money wouldn’t go towards it. A compromise.
IS THIS A SMART POSITION?
Politically? Probably, as it’s necessary to pander to people who don’t understand and don’t bother to fully inform themselves on the issue.
Scientifically? NO. It’s DUMB. Why? Because, thus far, all fetal stem cell lines have been derived from fetuses that came from spontaneous miscarriages. The child, through no fault of anyone, was already dead. Thus there should be no connection to abortion or payment or any of those thorny issues. So I think this compromise is better than most alternatives, but still sits on a seed of ignorance.
One last lie:
“George Bush has stopped funding for fetal stem cell line creation.”
Nice try. But not accurate. Stem cell research funding effectively started under Bush. So he didn’t stop any funding. He just started the funding for everything _but_. “Anti-science” indeed. I keep encountering manipulation of the facts like this. Let me sum up with the following comparison:
George Bush goes to little Billy and says: “OK Billy, here’s some money for ice cream. There’s money there for the ice cream and for rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, peanuts, M&Ms, toffee crumbles, and chocolate chips. But NO money for raisins. I hear they do terrible things to those grapes, so I’m not giving them any money. If you want raisins, you’ve got to spend your own allowance on them.”
John Kerry’s response: “George Bush is depriving little Billy of ice cream!”
John Edward’s response: “Oh, if only little Billy could have ice cream, then he’d never have to eat again!”
Which of the above is being the bigger idiot? Which is banking harder on YOU being an idiot?
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041027
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