'New stem cell source' discovered

don't know if this has been posted before:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6239871.stm

the article wrote

The Harvard University team say they have recovered functioning stem cells from amniotic fluid - the liquid that surrounds the baby in the womb.

will this affect the "controversy" surrounding stem cell research in any way, good or bad?

[Victus]

Good way if you're a scientist. I'm sure someone will claim the holy significance of the amniotic fluid though.

[antix]

Victus wrote

Good way if you're a scientist. I'm sure someone will claim the holy significance of the amniotic fluid though.

They'll probably say that's where the "holy spirit" surrounds the god inspired miraculous living entity. Therefore it must not be tampered with or the eternal salvation of the little bugger will be jeapordized.

Ain't that the troof. Maybe there will be a stealthy person in the delivery room collecting the amniotic fluid for "sanitation purposes", who then runs down the hallway with the sanitized bucketful of "science stuff" for experiments by...HORRORS....scientific-like people. Hey, we gots to get our body parts somehow! :lol:

Interesting. The article said that these amniotic stem cells were "similar" in properties to embryonic stem cells without elaborating further. My guess is that while they wouldn't be highly differentiated, they wouldn't be pluripotent like embryonic stem cells. It's really pathetic that all this research money has to be spent on finding substitutes for embryonic stem cells rather than on actually doing useful research.

[Choobus]

Metman07 wrote

It's really pathetic that all this research money has to be spent on finding substitutes for embryonic stem cells rather than on actually doing useful research.

Indeed. It's like staying at home with a blow up doll because you're not allowed to shag a hooker. Thanks a lot Jeebus.

Choobus wrote

Indeed. It's like staying at home with a blow up doll because you're not allowed to shag a hooker. Thanks a lot Jeebus.

:lol: Best analogy ever.

[Sternwallow]

Victus wrote

Good way if you're a scientist. I'm sure someone will claim the holy significance of the amniotic fluid though.

They'll probably call it something lame like "Holy Water".

antix wrote

They'll probably say that's where the "holy spirit" surrounds the god inspired miraculous living entity. Therefore it must not be tampered with or the eternal salvation of the little bugger will be jeapordized.

considering how much amniotic fluid has been left on the seats of taxi cabs and hospital room floors, i think we need to put this holy spirit juice to better use!

[Sternwallow]

DontBeStupid wrote

considering how much amniotic fluid has been left on the seats of taxi cabs and hospital room floors, i think we need to put this holy spirit juice to better use!

Yeah, and then make it illegal to waste it. Oh, the humanity!

Metman07 wrote

It's really pathetic that all this research money has to be spent on finding substitutes for embryonic stem cells rather than on actually doing useful research.

That's the whole problem isn't it? We know that embryonic stem cells have massive potential, but instead of focusing on realizing that potential, scientists have to waste teir scarce resources on finding alternative sources of stemcells. And for what??

..and I'm sure they'll have some objection to this as well. It's beyond stupid....

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