Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Research – Changing???

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Here is an interesting article from FAITH AND FAMILY VALUES:

LIFE DIGEST: Researchers moving to reprogrammed cells from embryonic ones

By Tom Strode – Aug 19, 2008

Prominent scientists previously committed to stem cell research that destroys human embryos apparently are shifting their allegiance to reprogrammed stem cells that do no harm.

Harvard Stem Cell Institute’s George Daley, a former president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, is talking up reprogrammed, or induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs), the online newsletter BioEdge reported Aug. 14. Only three years ago, Daley testified before a U.S. Senate committee that reprogramming was “extremely high-risk” and cloning for destructive embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) was preferred, according to BioEdge.

Daley and fellow researchers have used reprogrammed stem cells to produce cell lines for 10 diseases, including muscular dystrophy, juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Down syndrome, according to a report in the journal Cell, Bio Edge reported.

“We wanted to produce a large number of disease models for ourselves, our collaborators and the stem cell research community to accelerate research,” Daley said. “The original embryonic stem cell lines are generic, and allow you to ask only basic questions. But these new lines are valuable tools for attacking the root causes of disease. Our work is just the beginning for studying thousands of diseases in a Petri dish.”

As a result, Daley and other scientists have progressed further using reprogrammed cells “in six months than he had in years toiling over embryonic stem cells,” BioEdge observed.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) appears to be moving toward IPS cell research as well, according to BioEdge. In an Aug. 13 news release, CIRM described itself as “the largest source of funding for embryonic and pluripotent stem cell research in the world” after long calling itself a funding source only for ESCR, according to the newsletter.

“It appears that the CIRM’s love affair with slow, inefficient, expensive, ethically fraught and legally complex human embryonic stem cells may be drawing to a close,” BioEdge commented.

Bioethics specialist Wesley Smith wrote of the developments on his weblog, “It may not yet be a full fledged exodus, but it would appear that the tide has changed dramatically.

“If this continues, and it becomes clear that the tide is irreversibly flowing toward IPSCs, the political ability to create an international ban on human cloning with the catcalls of CURES! CURES! CURES! to distract leaders from doing the right thing will increase. We may actually be able to throttle human cloning before it gets too far out of the test tube.”

Reprogrammed cells, or IPSCs, gained worldwide attention in November when research teams in Japan and Wisconsin reported they converted normal human skin cells into stem cells that were, in effect, embryonic in nature.

Embryonic stem cells are considered “pluripotent,” meaning they can develop into all of the different cell types in the body. Adult stem cells, also referred to as non-embryonic stem cells, typically have been regarded as “multipotent,” meaning they can form many, though not all, of the body’s cell types. The 2007 study results showed adult cells can become “pluripotent.”

The stunning reports were issued only days after cloning pioneer Ian Wilmut startled the scientific world by announcing he had abandoned research, or therapeutic, cloning in favor of the reprogramming method.

Stem cells are the body’s master cells that can develop into other cells and tissues, giving hope for the development of cures for a variety of diseases and other ailments.

BioEdge says its seeks to promote ethics and compassion in medicine.

You can find this article and more at this link.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Human Life is Precious

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

HUMAN LIFE IS PRECIOUS

Exodus 20:13 – “Thou shalt not kill.”

Mark 12:29-31 – “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.“

Why has God given us Commandment that we are not to kill one another? Because we are each one made in the image of God, and though that image is marred by sin God still finds specialness/sacredness in humanity.

There are people today who want to use this commandment; when it comes to what we call “Capital Punishment” – the putting to death of an individual because they have, in cold-blood taken another human life – to argue against the putting to death of such an evil person as one who would cold heartedly without any inhibition take the life of another. May God forgive them their error. The putting to death of a cold hearted murderer shows the sacredness of the life that was taken. To allow the murderer to live is to say the murderer’s life is more valuable than the murdered individual.  “Thou shalt not kill” does not prevent the soldier who fights to defend his/her country, or one protecting their own life, family’s lives, the life of another, or property.

God shows us by this commandment that He sees human life as being set apart from other life, and that it is valuable, special and sacred.

This commandment really has nothing to do with whether governments have the right or duty to put a killer to death. It has to do with the life of any human being.

Any murderer who takes the life of another in anger, or by malice, or for greed, envy, lust, etc. is worthy of death themselves. We must, however, realize that murder is not the unforgivable sin. With all sin there is forgiveness with God. Jesus Himself paid the sin debt, even for murder. There is forgiveness at the cross of Jesus who you could say by virtue of man, Jesus was murdered. Falsely accused by the religious establishment, wrongly convicted by the judge, but O, what a Savior. Our sin debt is paid.

When we hold God’s law/commandments as dear to us we will have respect for human life and hold it as sacred, and will view all life as special.

A law for the State of Missouri passed in November of 2006 that made “Stem Cell Research” legal. It was fought vigilantly by those who were for life. We saw through the smoke screen of wording on the ballot which made it seem that they were protecting life when in fact they were for embryonic murder for research. They called it legalizing “Stem Cell Research”. It is actually a plan to take embryoes and butcher them for the stemcells to do “Research?”, supposedly to improve the health of Missourians, and people of the world, I suppose. What is involved is what is called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) which is actually a form of cloning. This form (SCNT) is done by the emptying of the egg and implanting a human cell into it and, then nurturing it (understand, now this is the way I understand it; I am not a doctor, nurse, nor am I the son of one), just like invitro-fertilization is done (In glass). Then, they take this developing embryo and begin doing their “Research?”. There are a lot of questions I have of this, and one of them is, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP PLAYING GOD? This is life. Let God be God, and the health of us all would be much better. The battle in the State of Missouri continues on this. There are attempts to present another ballot in an upcoming election that would definitely outlaw “Embryonic Stem Cell Research”. Let us pray that this will be made illegal and respect for all human life will continue in Missouri and around the world.

There is already evidence that Adult stem cells do more in helping people, and there is only theoretical evidence that the Embryonic stem cells will. To “harvest” and use embryonic stem cells is to kill and take human life.

All of life is in God’s hands. What if someone had taken your embryo and destroyed it? There would be no you. We also need to let God do the selecting for life. He does it far better.

The Christian’s view of life should come from our heart and Scriptures; “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15). Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Murder can be just hatred in the heart. Do not think that that can be without guilt or punishment, and the judgment of Jesus Christ Himself.

Here is some Scripture to reconcile the sixth commandment with capital punishment – “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’ brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’ blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Gen. 9:5-6). “And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.” (EX. 21:15). “And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.” (EX. 21:18-19). Then a New Testament passage, ” Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:1-7).

In Deuteronomy 19:1-3, 8-10 there is reference to cities of refuge for those who had accidently killed someone. They could flee here and if found “Not guilty” of murder could stay there until the death of the “High priest”, then the family of the “victim:” could no longer pursue the life of this man without committing murder.

There is a place which anyone can flee today as well. That place is to the safety of Jesus Christ.
FLEE, FLEE TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

-by Tim A. Blankenship