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Etzoid makes a good point. Other ways to avoid the ethical dilemma include using cells in the umbilical cord from the mother in normal births and cell donations from living persons who give of themselves much the same as an organ. My question is whether the need for cells in research is so great that these other sources would be inadequate. Gene On Sep 1, 2004, at 10:59 AM, KF Etzold wrote: > The discussion on the ethics of the use of embryonic stemcells has > revolved > around the destruction of the embryo. > From the article on Dr. Temple: > > The debate centers on the fact that human embryos are destroyed to get > stem cells. Opponents say that no matter how young the embryo is, it's > human life and should not be destroyed. Supporters say the embryo is > not > a person -- that it has no nervous system, organs or other human > features, but instead is a barely visible clump of cells. > > I would like to raise an issue of accuracy and understanding: > Destruction > means usually that the destroyed item has totally ceased to exist. For > instance a living being ceases to exist and no recognizable parts > somehow > survive. This however, is not true for the embryos used to generate > stem > cells. It is true that it will not develop into a new human being, but > it > does not get "destroyed" in the above sense. The cells live on and have > their living identity. I view destruction as a dead end (pardon the > pun), > whereas the use of the cells causes the at least a portion to the > original > cell clump to live on, albeit in a different form. > > From an ethical point of view this is in some ways similar to organ > transplants. If one takes the strict view then organ transplants > should not > be allowed because it involves the "destruction" of a human being, > though > usually accidentally (I am excliuding here the donation of duplicate > parts, > like a kidney). Is it then the intention or the age that make the > difference? Embryos are young. Transplant organs are not. Or does the > decision of the donor or his/her relatives matter? > > K. F. Etzold cg Carline > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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