Another experiment. A public forum for my friends to debate.
I created this a while back and lost track of it amidst my personal life. I'll give it another push.
Itchy_turd - 1/31/2007 06:39:00 PM
Needs more topics.
Chuck - 1/31/2007 06:55:00 PM
suggestions?
Mike - 2/20/2007 08:31:00 AM
London, England (AHN) - The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority is expected to announce its decision next week regarding controversial work of two British scientists who plan to mix human and animal cells in order to research cures for degenerative diseases.
However, the British scientists believe that their plan of creating a partly human and partly animal embryo, if halted, would hinder their work on potentially life-saving new treatments that could possibly benefit hundreds of patients.
The hybrid embryos, if created, would be around 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent animal in order to produce embryonic stem cells - the body`s basic building blocks that can grow into all other types of cells.
According to The Telegraph`s UK edition, the new embryos would provide new hopes for patients suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer`s, Parkinson`s, cystic fibrosis, motor neuron disease and Huntington`s.
Dr. Stephen Minger at King`s College, London, and Dr Lyle Armstrong at the North East England Stem Cell Institute, in Newcastle, are the two lead researchers in this project. They have assured that the hybrid embryos would be destroyed within 14 days - a time when they have not started developing much.
According to Dr. Minger, "Informally we have been told [by the HFEA] they are unlikely to grant permission for our applications.
"At present we have no therapies to even alleviate the symptoms for conditions such as Alzheimer`s, spinal muscular dystrophy and motor neuron disease, never mind make an impact on disease progression."
However, the new idea has been highly criticized by many people as undermining "the whole distinction between animals and humans". They also feel that this is tampering with nature and is unethical.
Josephine Quintavalle, the director of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, told the newspaper, "This kind of research makes people feel uncomfortable. There has been a groundswell of public concern and I think the HFEA has realized that."
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006046206
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