Do No Harm has posted some new resources dealing with embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research including their response to this strawman attack which tried attack Do No Harm's claims that adult stem cell research has shown benefits to humans with 72 different conditions by using "Is an FDA-approved adult stem cell research treatment generally available to treat this disease or injury?" as their standard. The attack paper also often points out the research with adult stem cells isn't curative. From what I've seen Do No Harm has been careful to avoid terms like "cures" unlike numerous proponents of embryonic stem cell research including the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures and one of the attack paper's authors.
That author being William Neaves, who is the CEO of the Stowers Institute. The Stowers Institute provides a lot of the money behind the wholly deceptive push (fronted by the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures) to put the legalization of human cloning for research into Missouri Constitution while saying they are trying to ban human cloning. Neaves has also written in favor of human cloning for research. Not surprisingly, the article is intentionally deceptive (he never mentions that somatic cell nuclear transfer is cloning or that somatic cell nuclear transfer would produce a human embryo and that an embryo would have to die to get the stem cells), uses terms like "early stem cells," attempts to equate the cloning and killing of another human being for their stem cells with the "natural process of self-healing" and claims that "no new life is created by SCNT."
Neaves creating a strawman to knock down should come as no surprise. This man will lie through his teeth at every turn to get more funding for embryonic stem cell research and to legalize human cloning for research. That Science would publish this attack piece without providing the forewarning and space for Dr. Prentice and Do No Harm to respond is also sadly the type of action that is becoming less and less of a surprise. Science has previously published a number of articles (one co-written by Neaves) which persuade scientists against using the word "cloning" to describe human cloning for research.
Other materials available from Do No Harm include Where's the beef? which rounds up a variety of quotes regarding the effectiveness of adult and embryonic stem cells and It Can Happen Here which discusses fetal farming.
If your concern if of moral Christian basis, then why not consult your Bible as to when a soul enters into a human.
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
An embryo does not create its own blood until the 4th week of a successful implantation into a mothers womb.
The Missouri Stem Cell initiative prohibits implantation. It prohibits using early-embryonic stem cells from being utilized after 2 weeks.
By the word of God, a Christian can vote to pass the Missouri Stem Cell Initiative with a clear conscience.
Just because Dr. Neaves believes that human life begins at a later time than this blogger doesnt mean hes a liar. It means that he has an opinion, one of moral structure, that is every bit as valid as anyone elses. He is entitled to it by right, and you are entitled to yours. I look to my Bible as a guidance. It tells me specifically a soul comes from the life blood. Again 4 weeks after implantation in the womb!
Its ironic to say "the wholly deceptive push (fronted by the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures) to put the legalization of human cloning for research into Missouri Constitution " when thats actually deceptive of what the initiative says.
The amendment says that Missourians will be allowed the same rights to receive treatments and research that is mandated by federal law. In other words, Missouri is protected from extreme positions taken by lawmakers like Matt Bartle who want to criminalize anyone they have some moral disagreement with. I dont want to live in a state that criminalizes the brightest and most hopeful minds by driving them out with threats of going to jail for trying to cure human disease.
Here is another TRUE fact. No baby has ever been born from any type of cloning process. Passing the Initiative ensures that it won't ever happen.
Also I find it interesting that this therapy hold the promise that someday a woman may cure herself of a variety of diseases through SCNT.
Every cell in the human body contains our entire gene code and is capable of regenerating stem cells. One method to achieve this is called SCNT.
In this process a woman could take her own skin cell and one of her eggs. Have the stem cells extracted from the regenerative process to treat her own aliments, be it spinal injuries, brain disorders, Parkinsons. SCNT is a regenerative process, not a reproductive one. To imply that this is a baby, is to imply that a woman can impregnate herself, and is simply not possible.
Seek the truth, not the politic.
God Bless America.
Hi Iseektruth,
If you're seeking the truth, I think you've been severely mislead.
I actually consult scientific textbooks to decide when life begins. You should also be wary of how you use/misuse Scripture. Nowhere does that passage come anywhere near saying human embryos aren't alive or that a soul enters the body when blood does. The quote is not intended to teach when human life begins but rather what God deserves from sacrifices. Nowhere in the Bible does God condone the creation (via cloning) of embryonic human beings for the sole purpose of destroying them for their stem cells.
Dr. Neaves is well aware of when life begins. Unfortunately, he's head of organization which has political motives and he intentionally lies and uses deceptive language in an attempt to sway public opinion.
Every cell in the human body contains our entire gene code and is capable of regenerating stem cells. One method to achieve this is called SCNT.
SCNT doesn't regenerate stem cells. That's one of Neaves most obvious lies. SCNT creates a cloned human embryo which can be killed for his/her stem cells. This where the stem cells come from - a cloned human embryo. These embryonic stem cell don't just magically appear - they come from a cloned human embryo.
Where are the stem cell "extracted" from? Could it be a living human embryo? It's true a woman can't impregnant herself but if human cloning is ever successful (millions of dollars have already been flushed on failed attempts) - it could be possible to implant cloned human embryos into a woman's womb.