Most of the debate and media attention about stem cell research focuses on embryonic stem cells. But David Prentice, a senior fellow for life science with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback’s stem cell expert, argues that stem cells from umbilical cords and adults offer the greatest research potential. He told The Eagle editorial board last week that thousands of people are already being treated with these cells. “You’re seeing real results,” he said, unlike embryonic stem cells, which he argues generate more hype than research results.
Meanwhile, there is an interesting theory that stem cells may be key in helping understand and fight cancer. Some researchers believe that aberrant stem cells are responsible for helping tumors regenerate, The New York Times reported. If so, anti-cancer drugs need to be able to target these cancer stem cells in order to destroy tumors.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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19 Comments
Some adult stem cells are pluripotent (able to develop into any type of cell). Isn’t pluripotency the reason that we regard embryonic stem cells as the holy grail? I always wondered why there was such hype over embryonic stem cells that pretty much end up causing tumors rather than doing any real good.That said, I would hate for the US to nix stem cell research and for another country to have an earth-shattering breakthrough with them, rendering us as the fat kid who finishes the race last.
And the cancer research…amazing stuff. Biology is beautiful.
The UK is going crazy over research of stem cells. They say that they don’t have the controversy over there, in fact, that vast majority of the Brits are for it. So lots of research dollars are going into it.
Here? Hard to say what to make of it.
I saw an interesting item suggesting that some sort of abberation in stem cells might be a cause of cancer in adults. I don’t really know what to make of it but it does show the need for research in all of these fields.
Embryonic stem cells exhibit totipotency, which is the capacity to develop into any cell line represented in the body. Pluripotent cells, which include some adult and embryonic stem cells, can give rise to a discrete set of cells. (For example, hematopoetic stem cells are pluripotent and can give rise to red and white blood cells, but not other cell types.)The value in embryonic stem cells is not necessarily their direct therapeutic value, but rather investigating totipotent stem cells could permit the acquisition of new, fundamental knowledge about how genetic information is expressed. Such information could then potentially be used to direct advances in understanding of genetic disorders such as cancers. Those that are championing using adult or umbilical stem cells are correct in that some therapies may be developed from this line of research, but until scientists understand the secrets of totipotency in embryonic stem cells, our knowledge, and potential application of this knowledge, will be incomplete.
David Prentice is a nut.
http://www.theantisam.com/archives/2005/04/11/science-advisor-wingnut-phd/
A little learning is a dangerous thing; we need a huge amount of learning before stem cell therapies can be made safe and effective. How can we ethically do only half the necessary research on something so important to so many as stem cells?
The reason there is so much “hype” about human embryonic stem cell research is because most scientists want to do it without Senator Sam Brownback and his disciples and their faith-based notion of cells being people, tying their hands.Unlike adult SCR it is a new field of inquiry that may hold hope for millions of suffering people. I have had Parkinson’s Disease for ten years so please stop telling me how adult stem cells are benefitting me. They are not.
Adult stem cells are already differentiated and treatment may not lie in cell replacement anyway. Scientists think hESCR holds promise for learning the etiology of diseases, which definitely should precede shot-in-the-dark treatments.
It is really a shame that people have to fight both horrendous diseases and misguided politicians.
I repeat a previous post:
The laws of natureIf our legislators had any guts at all they would define “when it is human?” and settle this never ending squabble.As many of you already know, due to nature’s metamorphosis, a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, a cut worm becomes a moth, a tadpole becomes a frog, a grub worm becomes a June bug and a sperm from a human male has a chance of becoming a human.A caterpillar is not a butterfly, a cut worm is not a moth, a tadpole is not a frog, a grub worm is not a June bug and a sperm from a human is not a human. In fact, after conception, it is nothing more then a loveable parasite in a human female’s body, sucking life from this host body. It will continue to suck life from this host body until it either dies in the womb or the umbilical cord is cut. Until that time (the cord is cut), based on the law of nature, it cannot be called human.
Until this basic fact is acknowledged into law, this problem will never be solved.
My point is until our government legislates once and for all when a sperm/egg/fetus becomes a human we will always have the stem cell battle.This thing of being a human upon conception is totally ridiculous and is false in the eyes of natural metamorphosis.Stem cell reserch should not be politicized ! ! !
Embryonic Stem Cell research (ESCR) has been going on in animals for almost 25 years with no results except tumor formation in about 25% of recipients, which they still have no clue how to prevent. There are now 67 diseases/conditions that adult and umbilical cord blood stem cells are treating in HUMANS. Go to http://www.stemcellresearch.org.
“In fact, after conception, it is nothing more then a loveable parasite in a human female’s body, sucking life from this host body.”
Guy: What a sick, disturbing view. If you think that this is where the law is headed, you…, well let’s just say that you don’t have a grasp of reality.
Does anybody really think we’d be having this conversation if men could get pregnant?
It would be as important as male virginity . . . slightly ridiculous.
OutlanderWhat is sick about stating the facts? Is any of my post not a fact?My whole post is based on fact and reality.If only those legislators would come out of their yellow belly cowardly corner and make a decision on a point in time when we have a lawfully designated human, it may stop all these threats, distruction and killings.If that’s not reality then no one really wants it all to stop.
“Go to http://stemcellresearch.org/“
Yeah…I looked around, and the word “biased” comes to mind. Try this one instead for a basic overview: http://stemcells.nih.gov/MW, that’s a good point about the value of embryonic cells in understanding gene expression and regulation…I just fear most people think that if embryonic stem cell research is given free reign, we’ll end up with cures for everything within a few years. Talk about unrealistic expectations.
Outlander, to those who loathe the idea of being mothers or even pregnant, that definition is accurate. To an unwilling woman, it is nothing more than a parasite that she wants out of her ASAP.Not everyone gets gooey over the thought of babies.
http://www.wndbookservice.com/products/BookPage.asp?prod_cd=c6862#continue
For those of you that said that feminism has never been anything but good for this country, this should be an eye-opener for ya’ll.:)
Now if you’ll all excuse me, me and my homies are gonna go make trouble for the establishment. :)
Tara: A womans’ state of mind does not change the nature of reality and what it is that she is carrying. It is not any less human.
ITA agree, Outlander. Of course, I’m one of those people who DO get gooey over babies. Funny how they all look like Winston Churchill at birth.
Good point. There are however a few other things many people should be aware of. Most know that cord blood banks collect, process, test and store the donated umbilical cord blood for the public use, taking into account the great number of people who are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases each year. Therefore, cord blood banks look after expectant mothers, informing them about the importance of their umbilical cord blood and the possibility of helping some people who suffer from terrible diseases. Nevertheless, the information and sensitizing of the population is not fully achieved as in the case of simple blood donation. Cord blood stem cell transplants are considered in order to replace blood marrow transplants. The possibility of finding the match for the patients in need increases, as in 2001 the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies stated that roughly 20,000 American lives were saved through transplants of stem cells. I’ve covered some other aspects related to this topic on my website, Cordbloodhub.com – please let me know if you find them useful.
Regards,
Michael Rad