Stem cells cure blind man

[DigitalSushi]

I was going to post a thread about this yesterday but I didn't have the time in between buying beers and procrastinating.

I was going to make it Bioshock themed but you have stolen my thunder.

Also upon hearing the news that he was blinded by ammonia I feel lucky that 10 years ago in Belfast I had ammonia sprayed in my face and I didn't know it could be so damaging, good news is I have my sight still and i'm handsome to boot.

Hooray for the scientistmans and my looks.

I can't help but wonder why Stem Cell Research is so controversial again?. Oh that's right..it makes the baby Jesus cry!

Stem cells taken from a fetus is what is controversial.
In this case, stem cells were taken from his own eye, so there is no controversy here.

So try to avoid the flame-bait, please and thank you.

More on topic: That's pretty awesome. I'm sure the guy is just elated, for good reason.
Let's hope it holds up (No unforeseen consequences or anything).

Excellent bit of moderating there, pleasantly asking for a change in the OP, I applaud you Baby Tea your so nice!.

 

[maddog015]

I was going to post a thread about this yesterday but I didn't have the time in between buying beers and procrastinating.

I was going to make it Bioshock themed but you have stolen my thunder.

Also upon hearing the news that he was blinded by ammonia I feel lucky that 10 years ago in Belfast I had ammonia sprayed in my face and I didn't know it could be so damaging, good news is I have my sight still and i'm handsome to boot.

Hooray for the scientistmans and my looks.

Sorry to bring this off-topic...but how often does this happen? Who the hell brings ammonia to a street fight?

But back on topic...yay science.

 

[Phenakist]

If nothings harmed in the process of stem cell treatment (fetus's/babies) I see nothing wrong with it I'm behind it all the way, I don't see the whole debate over it especially if there is only good coming from it.

For the religious point of view, I am a Christian, and why have stem cells, created do do what they do, if they aren't being put to their primary use? So long as nothing is being harmed in the process.

I mean in this case the cells were taken from his other eye, I don't see that as any different than taking a vein from someones leg and using it for their heart bypass operation, in fact it is less damaging since the cells will reproduce.

If you say this is a bad thing and a bad leap in science you deserve to be slapped and you may as well be the blind person, it was morally right and a man has his sight back, what could be a better Christmas gift Miracle? Oh and if you ask to be cured you are a hypocrite.

 

[SilentHunter7]

On a more serious note, I'm fairly sure Jesus would be up for curing the blind and this great leap forward in medical technology will surely make the future a frickin' awesome place to be.

If my memory serves correctly, there is a passage in the bible where Jesus cures a blind man.

So in all actuality, Jesus would probably be all for this. OP's suggestion is invalid.

The only controversy is when stem cells are taken from living embryos. Granted, most of them are doomed anyway, but many people see this as killing a human life. And though I don't agree with that notion, I can see where they're coming from.

 

[Valkatron]

This is awesome, awesome news. I hope i can guinea pig myself sometime soon (Hooray for motorbikes!)

 

[BaldursBananaSoap]

Man think of what we can do in the future with this stuff. Don't worry about the religious fanatics the moment they go blind they'd be begging for this to make them see again.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Sorry to bring this off-topic...but how often does this happen? Who the hell brings ammonia to a street fight?

But back on topic...yay science.

It was a 12 year old kid that was in "that gang" that sprayed me, its an easily concealed and easy to carry weapon which made it highly effective and advantagous to a weaker person.

Personally I feel in a street fight anything is fair game, its a barbaric sport nothing honourable to it, so when the guy is down I would stamp his face.

You'll find that in carrying weapons there's a cycle to it with each generation, 5 years ago sulfuric and caustic acid was all the rage, then it was knives and now vicious dogs.

 

[Baby Tea]

Religion may be part of a persons life but may not drive their decisions...

Speak for yourself!

If my memory serves correctly, there is a passage in the bible where Jesus cures a blind man.

There are two accounts of that, actually!
I'm pretty sure he'd be cool with this.

Non-fetal stem cell research has tremendous potential, it can cure people with ruptured spines, grow limbs and now restore sight and these can be done without going anywhere near a fetus. However, while the technology isn't new you can get a feel for the love of this field by the media reports made about it. Which is essentially none.

People plus those who say it's unethical (with or without knowing the facts) somehow have managed to make this science appear as the work of the anti-Christ. It baffles me as to why it's such a big deal.

I agree 100% that stem cells have great potential to do much good for the collective health of man. I think the problem arose when stem cells first made the media spot-light, as they were only (At first) attainable from a fetus (At least, that is what was reported). I'm willing to bet dimes to nickels, and I think you would too, that there are people who have no idea that stem cells can come from bone, or an eye, or other parts of the body.

I also agree that commag9's post is an excellent summation of how we probably both feel about this situation. A good balance between moral responsibility and ambitious scientific discovery. It's a shame the media doesn't report more positively on such news, but there isn't controversy (And therefore ratings) with people being healed. A real, honest shame.

 

[Abedeus]

I'm a sort-of Christian (officially, even after Confirmation, but I never believed in that crap), and I'm all for stem cell research. Few reasons:

1) It might fix my asthma.
2) It might fix Pratchett's Alzheimer
3)

Now we can get them to create two Shakeys Pizzas!

Yeah. Go Stemcells!

 

[AkJay]

Jesus cured a blind man, or so people say. But even so, you KNOW they are goign to flip shit and still call it an abomination, or whatever it is they are doing.

 

[Booze Zombie]

See, didn't even need another person's cells to cure it!

Truly amazing.

 

[crypt-creature]

Speak for yourself!

Well, I did say 'may' for a reason ;]
Not everyone (religious or otherwise) is like you though.

EDIT: - I'm not 'religious' or any type of 'ism', 'theist', 'ist', or 'ology'.

 

[DigitalSushi]

The potential for Stem Cells are amazing. Anybody who is against them should get blinded; maybe they'd change their minds.

They are clearly already blind, good sir.

You get todays two thumbs up award for excellent post Jaranja.

as for you Citrus, no need to hate, fighting fire with fire with angry zealots just lowers you to there level, evil begets evil remember.

Or an Eye for an Eye as the saying goes.

 

[Jaranja]

The potential for Stem Cells are amazing. Anybody who is against them should get blinded; maybe they'd change their minds.

They are clearly already blind, good sir.

You get todays two thumbs up award for excellent post Jaranja.

as for you Citrus, no need to hate, fighting fire with fire with angry zealots just lowers you to there level, evil begets evil remember.

Or an Eye for an Eye as the saying goes.

*takes a bow*

I actually oppose "An Eye for an Eye makes the whole world blind" because it doesn't. It makes the people that take eyes blind. Does that make sense?

 

[Lemon Of Life]

How incredible. Hats off to the scientists, they

-snip-

It's hand in hand thing. If religion wasn't there then we'd have cloned ourselves to oblivion.

That's bollocks. It's common sense and respect for human life that stops us from cloning ourselves so far. It's laws which stop that, not religion, religion barely has a hand in it. It wouldn't happen even if there WAS no religion.

Yes but where do we derive our common sense from?.

From a purely scientific perspective, there is nothing wrong with cloning. Theoretically you can get a genetic copy of yourself which you can use for various things, among others organ harvesting. It's not pretty but it's a use.

Religion gives us the common sense where we stop to consider what the implications of these actions are.

Science tells us the numbers and facts. Religion tells us right and wrong.

So...you're saying that atheists are more likely to be bad people? And what about all the horrible things that have been performed in the name of religion?

 

[Nukey]

This is fantastic, good for blind guy who can now see.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I agree 100% that stem cells have great potential to do much good for the collective health of man. I think the problem arose when stem cells first made the media spot-light, as they were only (At first) attainable from a fetus (At least, that is what was reported). I'm willing to bet dimes to nickels, and I think you would too, that there are people who have no idea that stem cells can come from bone, or an eye, or other parts of the body.

I also agree that commag9's post is an excellent summation of how we probably both feel about this situation. A good balance between moral responsibility and ambitious scientific discovery. It's a shame the media doesn't report more positively on such news, but there isn't controversy (And therefore ratings) with people being healed. A real, honest shame.

Had I not known enough or not being curious enough to read and study about this technology then yes I would be against non-fetal stem cell research too. However in the information age that we all live in a person only has to look to the internet to find out about something as intriguing or as revolutionary as this.

Maybe with time and as achievements such as these continue to occur people and religious authorities who still claim that all forms of SCR is harmful might see the great good that lies within it. Today we cure the blind, tomorrow who knows?.

Edit: Holy crap, I am one post away from 2000!.

 

[DigitalSushi]

*takes a bow*

I actually oppose "An Eye for an Eye makes the whole world blind" because it doesn't. It makes the people that take eyes blind. Does that make sense?

This thread is great, nice chat regarding science prevailing with discussion on moral and ethics and we've thrown conundrums of philosophy into the mix as well.

 

[Jaranja]

*takes a bow*

I actually oppose "An Eye for an Eye makes the whole world blind" because it doesn't. It makes the people that take eyes blind. Does that make sense?

This thread is great, nice chat regarding science prevailing with discussion on moral and ethics and we've thrown conundrums of philosophy into the mix as well.

I'm glad to see you like it. I guess we're at a disagreement on the whole 'Eye for an Eye' thing, then?

 

[Zenn3k]

As someone who is also blind in 1 eye, this gives me some hope.

Thank you.