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I have observed the discussion on abortion, stemcells, embryos etc. Having had discussions on this topic a rather obvious conclusion is that it is essentially futile to argue on the beginning of human or any other life. When is an embryo an embryo, and at what point does the clump of cells develop into a fetus? These are unanswerable questions. And the discussions are colored by one's religion, ethical beliefs and to some extent politics. It is probably also true that no compromise between the parties of different opinions is possible, because the truth is essentially relative. Take the Bible for instance: for many ideas there are contradictory statements. That said, how do we proceed with research and life or death decisions? On solution is make definitions for purposes of making decisions. To some extent that is how Roe v Wade is handled, although not explicitly. Here an embryo less than 3 months old (I am sure if the age is correct) is not person. Thus the opinions are essentially moot because the law defines the facts for us. This is what has to be done for stemcell work and related issues: On cannot argue about something that is either vaguely defined or not all. Religious arguments don't help because they are based on a historical document, the Bible. In that document time has stopped somewhere near zero BC and the ethical quandaries of today are simply not relevant because of development of new technologies which did not exist then. The best one can do is to draw ideas by analogy. K. F. Etzold cg Carline ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert A. Fink, M. D." <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 11:21 AM Subject: Re: stem cell research/abortion/KF > On 31 Mar 2004 at 11:40, M.Schild wrote: > > > Stem cells are taken from a very young embryo ( about 5 days old.) A > > fetus is usually called that when it differentiates. Before that, all > > vertebrate embryos are similar ( dogs , horses, apes , humans, > > etchave a similar embryo). It is only later that the embryo can only > > develop into a human and is called a fetus. > > Respectfully, I say that this is playing with words. The "embryo", unless it is > defective, has the full potential to develop into a fetus and then into a human > baby. While "embryos" do not "look" human before about 8 weeks (when it > becomes a "fetus"), it is a human being, with the human DNA and the right > number of chromosomes. > > The argument about using unborn human beings for research is one thing (and > one can hold differing positions on that); but don't try to tell me that a human > embryo is anything other than a human being. > > > Best, > > Bob > > ********************************************** > Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S., P. C. > 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 > Berkeley, California 94704-2636 > Telephone: 510-849-2555 FAX: 510-849-2557 > WWW: http://www.rafink.com/ > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > "Ex Tristitia Virtus" > > ********************************************* > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn