Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Where Were You?

This may sound a bit melodramatic, but I really do think this latest discovery about stem cells could easily be historic to the degree of the moon landing. It could change how modern medicine is practiced. Granted, there is still a good bit of research left in order to perfect the method, but the researchers interviewed seemed to think it would only be a matter of a few months before they were able to create the cells in a more reliable way, without retroviruses. If that is true, the entire debate over the use of discarded embryos to retrieve stem cells would be over. Done. Finis. The potential use of stem cells is unlimited. Imagine a world without heart disease, liver disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, tranplant lists, organ donors, kidney dialysis. The list goes on. And on. And on. Right now, it's still just potential, and I realize that stem cells won't simply be a cure-all, but man... Wouldn't it be something if they even fulfilled half the uses that we imagine they could?

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