In what states is embryonic stem cell research legal?
105787
It is legal in all states... the controversy is over government funding of stem cell research.
185985
It is not banned. But the government cut the federal funds. So only if someone donates a couple million dollars to a laboratory that does stem cell research, the research keeps going.
1122171
They have proven that the stem cells found in the cords at the time of delivery provide just as much genetic material and supply for testing and research. \n\nI think they should use those cells, and not those they collect from cultured embryos.\n\nThere is always a way to test and research that doesnt involve the use of lives without voices. Such as the unborn or animals. I think those should be sought after and explored.
238795
Stem cells are primal undifferentiated cells which retain the ability to differentiate into other cell types. This ability allows them to act as a repair system for the body, replenishing other cells as long as the host organism is alive.\n\nMedical researchers believe stem cell research has the potential to change the face of human disease by being used to repair specific tissues or to grow organs. Yet as government reports point out, "significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research."\n\nThere are three types of stem cells: embryonic, adult and cord blood. Right to life and many religious groups have ethical problems with embryonic programs because it involves destroying surplus embryos from IVF programs.
59022
California: San Diego, San Francisco; Boston; Washington DC/Maryland biotech corridor; Research Triangle in North Carolina. These are the top 4 areas in the country for biotech; the exact order changes periodically. This information is periodically broadcast on NPR and other news stations.\n\nNot all biotech is the same however. Depending on your specialization, you might not want to go to the #1 rated place.
693540
Embryonic stem cell research is unquestionably wrong because it involves the destruction of a human baby.  There are other sources of stem cells such as placental cord blood, adult stem cells, etc. that are right and good research which promises to produce many good therapeutic procedures and products.  Stick to that kind of stem cell research and many good things will come of it.  But, at all costs, avoid anything to do with embryonic stem cell research.
709278
i read the other posts and its strange but they totally disregard the facts !  nasal stem cells are compatible with all organs and usages, that what the newest paper released in the stem cell research fields says anyway, and the leading scientist said that embryonic was  not the only way that in the field it was the most convenient.  several of the ppl who responded just totally blew off the facts and said the nasal stem cells were for only a limited use and others supported the embryonic only because thats what they think works...neither view base on the facts. personally i think some ppl just don't want to know the truth. stem cell research is changing daily and for the person who said there is no funding they certainly don't know anything about it because millions was given last year alone in govt. grants, private companies and personal donations to this research. for once i'd like to see someone tell the truth with out bending it to fit their agenda. thanks for just pointing out the facts without being biased, i wish more ppl would do that.
1087529
Stem cell research is being thwarted by Christian fundamentalists who have too much say in politics right now. Contact your congressmen and support stem cell research!
547979
I dont think there's any evidence to claim that they are at this point. Umbilical cord stem cells do NOT have more capability then embryonic stem cells EVER. Embryonic stem cells are totipotent and umbilical cord cells, which are adult stem cells, are only pluripotent. While they cannot become any cell in the human body as ES cells can, they can become several specialized cells of the cell type they are. since the umbilical cord is used for blood and immunological cells and such, its stem cells can be used to produce more of any of those. This is why umbilical stem cells is commongly used in bone marrow transplants (bone marrow is where the cell components of your blood are created).\n\nThey are also of more use now than embryonic stem cells because we have not yet been able to produce a viable embryonic stem cell line from a cloned embryo. We can easily do it with an embryo which has been donated to research, but the problem there is that the genetic make-up of the embryonic stem cells will be foreign and the same fear of rejection and search for a close-enough match will occur. If stem cells are taken from one's own umbilical cord, it will be of their own genetic make up, thus their own cells.\n\n...This was a very long and possibly confusing answer. I hope it helps anyway. If you have any further questions you can contact me.
805439
I'm sorry, but some of the answers on here are utterly wrong in terms of science - there is a very big difference between stem cells from embryos, and stem cells from places like bone marrow.\n\nTHERE ARE INFACT TWO TYPES OF STEM CELL undergoing medical research: Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) and Adult Stem Cells (ASCs). \n\nASCs are taken from a human adult (eg from bone marrow), and usually either transplanted to another part of the body, or artificially encouraged to grow to greater numbers. ESCs are taken from human embryos which have been created artificially. Under the right conditions, these cells can then be grown in a lab, and if given the appropriate chemical signals, can be manipulated to become virtually any type of cell imaginable. In either case the aim is to replace tissues lost through disease.\n\nThose opposed to the use of ESCs strongly advocate the use of ASCs. However, many scientists believe that ASCs are ultimately less useful medically, as they cannot replace all types of cells. Blood stem cells can only become blood cells. They exist in very small amounts and are therefore hard to find, and in extremely limited supply if wanted for transplantation on a large scale. They are also difficult to grow in culture. By contrast, ESCs are easy to isolate, grow and manipulate, and have a greater variety of uses. Thus, they are favoured by scientists as a medical tool. \n\nAs ASCs come directly from the adult patient, there is essentially no controversy, as there are no life-issues at stake. It is the use of ESCs which is the cause of the debate, as it involves artificially creating a human embryo, harvesting the cells and then destroying the embryo. The moral objections to this revolve around a fundamental question - when does a group of cells constitute a human life? Put simply, are we playing God, and it is morally acceptable for us to do so? There has been no definitive conclusion, and the argument continues.\n\nThe variety of diseases which can potentially be treated with ESCs is huge, ranging from degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer. If successful, it could be the greatest reliever of human suffering since the introduction of antibiotics. To give some examples: A univeristy research team in America is close to creating a CURE to diabetes. Stem cells can be encouraged to produce insulin. These can then be transplanted into the patient, and they will never have to inject themselves with insulin again!! Another research team, in the UK, has managed to get stem cells to grow into liver tissue. This tissue can be used to test new drugs, so removing some of the need for animal testing - something I think most people would like to see! In the future, we will be able to grow whole organs for people!!\n\nI would like to point out that aborted babies are NOT used for stem cell research. The embryos are created in the lab, and growth is stopped when it reaches 8 cells. This way, all the cells are still stem cells, and so useful. Babies which have been aborted are far too large and devoloped to be useful in this way.\n\nHowever, the moral arguments surrounding their use do not look set to be resolved any time soon. Regardless, the immense potential medical benefits cannot be ignored. It is my view that the research should be allowed to continue, as it could help people in so many ways. Those who are opposed do not have to make use of the treatments once they become available, like Jehova's Wittnesses, who refuse blood transfusions because it against their beliefs. But I belive in giving people the choice.
902301
None, it is legal in all 50 states.  For more information on abortion, see http://Abort73.com
959456
It depends on your defination of Human cloning.\n\nStrictly speaking, embryonic stem cell research can be classified as human cloning, as it involves the cloning of a human embryo. However, the embryo is only grown so that is has 8 cells (you can't even see that without a microscope!!) at which point growth is stopped, and the stem cells are harvested.\n\nCloning an embryo and allowing it to grow into a full human being is in no way whatsoever legal in the US, or anywhere else in the world!\n\nStem cell research is immensely important to medicine, as it can potentially cure a whole range on diseases. In America, one group of researchers are near the point of creating a CURE for diabetes!! Once completed, stem cells which produce insulin can be transplanted into patients, so they will never have to inject insuling again! In the UK, a group of researchers has manged to grow liver tissue from stem cells. Although only small at the moment (the tissue is about the size of a 1p/1c coin) it will be a very useful research tool for testing and developing better drugs with less side-affects. In the future, scientists believe they will be able to grow whole replacement organs, grown to match the genetics of the patient, so there is no risk of rejection!\n\nAmerica, being the richest country in the world, with some of best research facilities, is a key player in world medicine. However, the current ban on federal funding of stem cell research in the US is slowing down the progress of the research immensely. Scientists around the world are hoping that when the Bush Administration leaves office, this ban will be lifted, so that more funding will be availble for research, and development of treatments which help patients will come a lot sooner!
984913
Absolutely. Promising results with stem cell treatments are published more and more often. For example, sight was recently restored in a blind mouse.
730714
1)  EVERY advance gained from stem cell research has come through adult stem cells\n\n2)  ZERO advances have come through embryonic.\n\n3)  When ZERO advances come along, private funding for research dries up.  Who wants to throw money at a losing proposition?\n\n4)  Stem cell research is not illegal.\n\n5)  The push for stem cell research is a veiled move to push for public funding for FAILED avenues of research.\n\n"To date there is no evidence that cells generated from embryonic stem cells can be safely transplanted back into adult animals to restore the function of damaged or diseased adult tissues. The level of scientific rigor that is normally applied (indeed, legally required) in the development of potential medical treatments would have to be entirely ignored for experiments with human embryos to proceed. As our largely disappointing experience with gene therapy should remind us, many highly vaunted scientific techniques frequently fail to yield the promised results. Arbitrarily waiving the requirement for scientific evidence out of a naive faith in "promise" is neither good science nor a good use of public funds."
755812
there are 2 types of stem cell used.  one is NOT from embro's and has cured about 100 diseases so far(republican).  the other is from unborn embro's and has cured ZERO diseases(democrat).  Think the chioce is that simple, it is.
18080
Embryonic stem cell research generally involves the death of an embryo.  The objection to stem cell research is basically a pro life position held in the belief that an embryo is human and should not be experimented on and killed like it is not human.
969469
I support stem cell research.\nI vehemently oppose Federal Funding (taxpayer) for stem cell research.  There is no more important right on this planet than private property rights (my money).  There will always be some worthy cause that politicians will use to spend "federal funds", and the slow erosion of private property rights for "worthy causes" will only make things worse.\n\n.