 |
 |
Just read this, having been away... Well said. Absolutely. For the life of me, I can't understand why the term "embryonic" has beome attached to stem cell research, since a blastocyst does not become an embryo—as you point out, Ray—until implantation. Here is what Wikipedia says: "The *blastocyst* is the structure formed in early embryogenesis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryogenesis>, after the formation of the blastocoel<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastocoel>, but before implantation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implantation>. It possesses an inner cell mass, or embryoblast<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_cell_mass>which subsequently forms the embryo, and an outer cell mass, or trophoblast <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophoblast> which forms the placenta <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placenta>. The human blastocyst arises after compaction and comprises 70-100 cells<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_%28biology%29>. It is preceded by a zygote <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygote>, the fertilized egg cell, and succeeded by an embryo<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo>." `'``subsequently"..."succeeded by"...These words indicate that the blastocyst is not an embryo. An embryo will develop only if implantation occurs. Biologyonline.org says: "Upon arrival in the uterus, the zygote fuses itself to the uterine wall. At this point, cells of the zygote differentiate into two distinct types - *Embryoblast Cells* - These cells continually divide into what will become the embryo, the baby itself - *Trophoblast Cells* - These cells form the placenta, that form against the uterine wall" This also indicates that without implantation, there is no embryo. From* IUPUI: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis,* here is a detailed timeline of human biological development with diagrams and photos. It shows that the embryo does not start to form until Day 10 after fertilization. http://www.biology.iupui.edu/biocourses/n100/2k4ch39repronotes.html In fertility clinics, blastocyst implantation into a woman's uterus occurs around Day 5 after in vitro fertilization (Source: WebMD). At that point extra blastocysts may be frozen. These frozen blastocysts are what some would have thrown away rather than used for research. They are not embryos. Kathleen 2009/1/7 rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> > This was my answer to an opponent of ESCR: > > Diane received the letter after my response to it as an answer to Don's > McCain on Stem Cells: > > Gary > > You said, "whenever we eliminate the embryo we have definitively eliminated > the human being into which it would have developed? Whether it is worth the > cost of one human life to prolong the life of another should be left up to > the person whose life is thus to be eliminated. And that means one had > better wait a bit." > > Those of us who support embryonic stem cell research do not believe a > blastocyst is a person any more than an acorn is an oak tree. Every seed > does not become a plant nor does every blastocyst become a person unless the > conditions of implantation and successful development until live birth occur > are met. Not all seeds sprout. You cannot ask a blastocyst whether it is > worth using it for research because it is a few microscopic undifferentiated > human cells that, will NEVER, if left alone in a petri dish become > anything. > > What you are doing is protecting cellular human life - seeds - at the > expense of actual persons whose lives have been destroyed by disease or > injury and are not asking that their lives be "prolonged" but made bearable. > > I can't think of anyone who would favor destroying people for research. > But cells are not people. They are potential life. ALL cells are, not > just germ cells. > > Are scientists playing "God" by manipulating cells? Probably, but many > people believe man was created in God's image and was given the gift of > intelligence to heal himself by God. I would suggest that if you oppose > life saving research you rely solely on prayer and let the rest of us have > the benefits of science.. > > > Rayilyn Brown > Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > [log in to unmask] > > > Rayilyn Brown > Director 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 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn