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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100623/ap_on_he_me/us_med_stem_cells_blindness

LOS ANGELES – Dozens of people who were

blinded or otherwise suffered severe eye damage when they were splashed with caustic chemicals had their sight restored with transplants of their own stem cells — a stunning success for the burgeoning cell-therapy field, Italian researchers reported Wednesday.

The treatment worked completely in 82 of 107 eyes and partially in 14 others, with benefits lasting up to a decade so far. One man whose eyes were severely damaged more than 60 years ago now has near-normal vision.

very interesting article. The article says that people still can't fix eyes that have damaged optic nerves but with the way we are progressing I think humans will be able to cure just about any kind of physical disability with stem cells.

why are we not funding this?

We're to busy exploring what's in space.
...and ethics yada yada.

JustAGuy wrote:why are we not funding this?

Pretty sure we are funding this. Think you might have watch an old family guy. They don't do it like they used to.

Restoring blindness eh? I can do that for real cheap, get me a toothpick and I'll "restore" any blindness for ya.

JustAGuy wrote:why are we not funding this?

A lot of people dislike the use of stem-cells in medical practice. It has a lot of ethical issues and is disliked by a lot of religious figures. It would be political suicide to even think about approving its use.

JustAGuy wrote:why are we not funding this?

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MrTwilliger wrote:

JustAGuy wrote:why are we not funding this?

A lot of people dislike the use of stem-cells in medical practice. It has a lot of ethical issues and is disliked by a lot of religious figures. It would be political suicide to even think about approving its use.

Obama ends stem cell funding ban
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7929690.stm

People against embryonic stem cell research make me want to bash my head through a wall. Not saying you are Twilliger, just making a broad statement.

Oh no, I'm all for stem cell research. I was just stating a common reason why it isn't commonly accepted by some people. I really like the link you posted though, I support Obama in what he's doing. Sadly though, it's unclear as to what level the restrictions will be lifted ><

While I do feel sorry for those who are opposed to the whole idea, I don't quite share their thoughts on the issue and think it can have a number of positive effects on our society. If only Julia Gillard decided to do the same thing down here >_>

such a coincidence that religions are always against development and progress

MrTwilliger wrote:

JustAGuy wrote:why are we not funding this?

A lot of people dislike the use of stem-cells in medical practice. It has a lot of ethical issues and is disliked by a lot of religious figures. It would be political suicide to even think about approving its use.

There are no ethical issues besides cloning, so there's exactly 1 ethical issue. Every other "ethical issue" comes from a misunderstanding of what stem-cell research is.

As usual religious activists are against something that could possibly progress the human race.

most religious people think you have to rip a devloping fetus out of its mother in order to acquire stem cells. so its understandable that some may be upset. if people would just research and do any amout of thinking we wouldnt have these issues.

I think there should be a natural disaster that kills like half of the worlds population, idc if I'm in it. I'm not selfish.
It would solve a lot of problems...

If they could also restore ears, I'd be very thankful lol.

MrTwilliger wrote:A lot of people dislike the use of stem-cells in medical practice.

It's no wonder people dislike it.. When stem cells come from embryos.

DarkJackal wrote:

JustAGuy wrote:why are we not funding this?

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I fooocking laughed my asss offfffff

Drevixa wrote:I think there should be a natural disaster that kills like half of the worlds population, idc if I'm in it. I'm not selfish.
It would solve a lot of problems...

there are 2 things buzzing in the air
vuvuzelas and 2012,

both annoying and noisy enough to impare healthy reason.
And having one being reality is already enough

*BlackFox wrote:

MrTwilliger wrote:A lot of people dislike the use of stem-cells in medical practice.

It's no wonder people dislike it.. When stem cells come from embryos.

There are stems cells located in adults as well, but they are much more difficult to find. It's easier to just kill an undeveloped human. *shrugs* Now, the real hard part is getting the stem cells to stay alive and grow the way you want them to grow(if you're trying to grow organs).

Also, the issue with the ban on federal funding of stem cell research is exactly what it says. It banned FEDERAL funding of stem cell research/new stem cell line creation. It did not ban stem cell research. It just means taxpayer dollars can't be used for that. I could just as easily get funding from private organizations and that's how it's been so far.

chickenfeather wrote:It just means taxpayer dollars can't be used for that

That's great and I hope it stays like that!

*BlackFox wrote:

chickenfeather wrote:It just means taxpayer dollars can't be used for that

That's great and I hope it stays like that!

They lifted the ban, thankfully.

Explain to me how a blastocyst is a 'human'. Also, most of these embryos (blastocysts, a small clump of cells) are from in vitro vertilization, not from a woman's body.

BABY KILLERS DERRR HURRR DERP!

Pan_Raider(`_´) wrote:

Drevixa wrote:I think there should be a natural disaster that kills like half of the worlds population, idc if I'm in it. I'm not selfish.
It would solve a lot of problems...

there are 2 things buzzing in the air
vuvuzelas and 2012,

both annoying and noisy enough to impare healthy reason.
And having one being reality is already enough

I'm not talking about 2012, I'm just saying that a major disater wouldn't be so terrible.

^^or unlikely.

a slightly better title may be 'Stem cells restore sight' not blindness xD
"hurray, I'm blind again!"

That's what I said poe, I was just a lot more subtle about it...

EvGa wrote:Explain to me how a blastocyst is a 'human'

Nah I can't.. lulz
But here's a picture of "human blastocyst"

poehalcho wrote:a slightly better title may be 'Stem cells restore sight' not blindness xD
"hurray, I'm blind again!"

lol

this is awesome, they need to cure my short sighted ness

TOloseGT wrote:this is awesome, they need to cure my short sighted ness

laser surgery can correct that

i'm scared for laser surgery =[