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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