Dear Maryan:
It would take me a few hours to answer your thouhful quesions about
research based on embryonic material,and I haven't got that time. You raise
very important points that are of great concernn to cell biologists.
However, the ability to culture single cells from embryos growing and
diferentiating in culture is now well established. These techniques can be
applied throughout gestation. It requres alot of skill. You question about
the transmission of pathjologcal agents: microbes or tumor cells,is also
very important. Accidental propagation from one culture to another or
transmission to human technicians must be carefully guarded against. One can
also point tot he possibility of intentional transmission of disease-causing
agents for the purpose of terorism.
I don't know your level of education in biology, but start with a
textbook of cell biology and embryology that stimulates your learning.>>
Regards, Steven Mayer
>> "The panel members considered and rejected the view that a human
>> embryo has rights that completely prohibit its use in research. To those
>> who argue that an embryo is a human being from the moment of conception,
>> the panel responded that no single trait or property is present at
>> conception that suffices to confer personhood, and thus rights, on the
>> embryo.
>> This view is persuasive. All human life begins at conception, but
>> many embryos do not implant, and even among those that do, many
>> spontaneously abort. Whatever shifts occur in the moral equation at
>> conception, it is not self-evident that that biologic event is of such
>> moral importance that it should cause all human embryos to be placed
>> outside the realm of research."
>>
>
>Just a note of caution. In terms of human development, an embryo is less
>than 2 months gestational age. I'm not sure that fetal cells can be
>harvested from such small beings. I would appreciate of synopsis of
>when and how fetal cells for transplant are obtained. My understanding
>is that surgical abortion is a requirement for the harvesting of viable
>neurological tissue.
>
>As an aside, no one has mentioned the danger of contracting diseases from
>such tissue transplants. I have also understood that an effort is being
>made to grow neurological tissue under laboratory conditions in effort to
>avoid the transmission of infectious and genetic diseases. Once again, I
>would appreciate an explanation of research being done in this area.
>------
>Regards
>Mary Ann
>
>
