Frist Breaks Ranks

**ICantSpellDawg** · 07-30-2005, 08:26

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4727869.stm

a bit saddening
i see his point, but i'd like futher explanation as to the reasons for his flip if anyone knows them

What do you all think?

**Red Harvest** · 07-30-2005, 08:34

The stem cell research restrictions have never made much sense to me. Frist has been far more pragmatic on various medical issues than the typical GOP senator. I give him full credit for that.

**Xiahou** · 07-30-2005, 09:38

Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff

i see his point, but i'd like futher explanation as to the reasons for his flip if anyone knows them

What do you all think?

He's running for president- simple as that. Time to abandon a few extreme views. Appeal to the center ect.....

**Efrem** · 07-30-2005, 10:22

He is 100% correct. If an embryo will be discarded anyway, I don't see why not to use it for research.

**Samurai Waki** · 07-30-2005, 10:36

Finally a Conservative that has come to his senses. I don't think embryonic stem-cells really push the line between ethics and morality, its just using common sense, especially if they were to be discarded in the first place. This is just one step towards curing a few genetic diseases.

**Azi Tohak** · 07-30-2005, 18:28

I know. But then...to get the stem cells, don't you need to have an abortion? I wonder which is the bigger worry for the far-right on this issue, either the use of a fetus, or the 'procurement' or 'obtaining' of a fetus (that just sounds bad but I can't think of another way to phrase it right now).

(I refer to 'them', not 'we' because I do not agree with most Republicans on abortion.)

I think stem-cell research is a great idea myself.

Azi

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 07-30-2005, 19:01

There are more types of stem cells than just Embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells come from fetuses and there is no proof that they can be used for anything - only the presuposition that they can. To my knowledge, anyway.

Adult stem cells - come from adults, I think specifically fat cells.

Other kinds include those from umbilical cords.

Doctors have already used non-embryonic stem cells to treat people. But they don't get press time at all, presumably because they aren't controversial.

**Marcellus** · 07-31-2005, 00:07

This Frist person made a sensible decision, IMO. Good for him.

Originally Posted by Alexander the Pretty Good

There are more types of stem cells than just Embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells come from fetuses and there is no proof that they can be used for anything - only the presuposition that they can. To my knowledge, anyway.

Adult stem cells - come from adults, I think specifically fat cells.

Other kinds include those from umbilical cords.

Doctors have already used non-embryonic stem cells to treat people. But they don't get press time at all, presumably because they aren't controversial.

Although Embryonic stem cells have not actually been used to treat people yet, to the extent of my limited knowledge (the techniques surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells are still very much in the development phase, I believe), they have a greater potential than adult stem cells, because they are pluripotent - able to grow into any type of body cell (of which there are around 200). This makes them more useful.

Adult stem cells are far less general. Many think that an adult stem cell (which BTW can be found in virtually any organ of the body, not just fat cells) can only grow into one type of cell. There is some evidence that certain types of adult stem cells can grow into several different cell types (e.g. bone marrow adult stem cells producing liver, nerve, muscle, hair follicle and kidney cells), but they are still not thought to be as pluripotent or useful as embryonic stem cells.