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Don: here is the contents of my stem cell brochure to accompany Nina Brown"s buttons "Stem Cell Research IS Pro-Life". I snail-mailed you the brochure a couple of weeks ago: Ray Why is Stem Cell Research Pro-Life? Because scientists believe stem cells will provide the key to a better quality of life for people who suffer from spinal cord injuries and incurable diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, cancer, and many more. What are Stem Cells? Cells, simply cells. Adult stem cells are differentiated, while embryonic stem cells are undifferentiated and can become any kind of cell in the human body. There is no fetus, baby, body or corpse destroyed when they are used for research. They are cells, nothing but cells. What is the Source of Embryonic Stem Cells? The extra, destined for the dust-bin frozen blastocysts in IVF clinics are one source. Another is SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer) or therapeudic cloning where an unfertilized egg is used with a somatic cell, such as a skin cell, to clone cells, not people. Aren't Adult Stem Cells Superior to Embryonic Stem Cells? No one knows, or will know, which are best for what disease until the research is done. What are the Latest Advances in Stem Cell Research? IPS (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells) Scientists have turned somatic skin cells into embryo-like stem cells (iPS), but embryonic stem cell research was necessary to accomplish this feat. Adult Stem Cells After 40 years of research adult stem cells have yielded 9 successful treatments for blood disorders and cancers. Embryonic Stem Cells 24 advances have been achieved with embryonic stem cells for animals and related techniques. See www.Sciencedaily.com Embryonic stem cells were isolated in 1998 and because of federal restrictions the states have been embroiled in controversy. Why is there a controversy about adult and embryonic stem cells? Opponents of ESCR believe a blastocyst is a person and using it for research is murder. Will Blastocysts get 14th Amendment Rights? In Colorado, attempts are underway to give a blastocyst 14th Amendment rights and to criminalize patients and doctors who utilize ESCR with $1 million dollar fines and ten-year jail terms. In California, the case of "Mary Scott Doe" failed in its attempt to give a blastocyst these rights. Why is Embryonic Stem Cell Research necessary? It is necessary to discover not only what doesn't work, but to learn how cells behave so that disease processes can be understood, better treatments developed and even cures found for currently incurable diseases and conditions. Arizona Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation 20280 N. 59th Avenue Suite 115-714 Glendale AZ 85308 (866)637-8772 Email: [log in to unmask] Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn