Comments on: sick http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/ Two prophets, living together. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:52:27 +0000 hourly 1 By: CyberAngel http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-116898 CyberAngel Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:01:58 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-116898 ESCR might be useless as of right now, but can one not use placenta of fetus instead of tissue from fetus itself - thus avoiding the moral problems? ESCR might be useless as of right now, but can one not use placenta of fetus instead of tissue from fetus itself – thus avoiding the moral problems?

]]> By: Amanda http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-78204 Amanda Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:11:07 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-78204 Yes, I am the same Amanda Stitzer from Protect our Posterity. Is it so weird for an atheist to be anti-abortion or anti-ESCR? It always shocks me how this issue has become so religiously based. To answer questions regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research, I will post an old blog of mine about this issue: "I am so frustrated with how our media keeps saying "stem cell research" when referring to embryonic stem cell research. There are very different and very distinct types of stem cell research and most people don't know the difference. The public’s ignorance on this issue is extremely frustrating! I believe in somatic stem cell research, but not embryonic for several reasons, but I will only address the scientific ones here: Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) involves taking stem cells from a blastocyst (an embryo about 4 or 5 days old), which consists of approximately 50 to 150 cells total. The main advantage to ESCs is that we know they are pluripotent. Pluripotent means that the stem cells can develop into any type of cell that is inside of our bodies when given the proper stimulation. HOWEVER, ESCs are naturally programmed to divide continuously and remain undifferentiated. In order to be able to use ESCs, scientists have to be able to differentiate the desired cell type, purify the cell, and then be able to stop cell growth once it has done its job. Scientists can differentiate the specific cell type. However, the highest percentage of purity they have achieved is 80%, which is no where near what is necessary for cell transplantation in humans. Also, scientists still haven’t found a method of halting overgrowth! Cancer is caused by cells' inability to stop growing! So, why is it that scientists believe they can harness the growth of ESCs when they have yet to cure cancer? Also, despite the other obstacles, the chances of transplant rejection are extremely high with embryonic stem cells. Then there’s the genetic instability of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos (aka “clone” without uterine implantation), since the chance of genetic mutations is exceedingly high. The probability of producing a stable SCNT embryo is less than 4%. Another thing, in more than 10 years worth of ESCR, they have yet to even produce a clinical trial! Somatic (adult) stem cell research (SSCR) involves taking stem cells from the patient, the blood from the patient’s umbilical cord, or a donor (living or dead). SSCs are multipotent. Multipotent means that the stem cells can develop into several different types of cells, but are limited in that they cannot develop into ANY type. SSCs are typically specialized to a certain group of cells, but in recent years we have found that some SSCs have been able to create cells outside of their group. This has become known as plasticity. Scientists are currently debating as to whether or not SSCs have the potential to be pluripotent just as ESCs are. The chances of transplant rejection or cancer are almost non-existent with SSCs, since the cells are being harvested from the patients own body and are not programmed to continuously divide. HOWEVER, as of now, we are unable to harvest SSCs to be able to create all 200+ cell types in our bodies. This doesn’t mean that they don’t exist, since they clearly have to because their progeny cells are present inside all of our bodies, but it simply means we haven’t been able to FIND them yet! The other issue with SSCs is that they can become damaged by lifestyle choices and environmental conditions. Purifying these stem cells is the normal practice, but it is no where near perfect. Also, the number of stem cells tends to be inversely proportionate to the age of the patient (or donor). These obstacles prove problematic, but are far easier to hurdle than those of ESCs. However, cord blood or primary teeth banking can help the next generation elude those complications, since those SSCs are undamaged, easier to harvest, and plentiful in numbers. Another thing, in more than 40 years worth of SSCR, they have produced numerous therapies and treatments! To be blunt, as of right now, ESCR is useless. Maybe at a later time it could be of some importance. However, in my opinion, by the time it could be of use, SSCR will have progressed to a point that ESCR will no longer be needed." Yes, I am the same Amanda Stitzer from Protect our Posterity. Is it so weird for an atheist to be anti-abortion or anti-ESCR? It always shocks me how this issue has become so religiously based.

To answer questions regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research, I will post an old blog of mine about this issue:

“I am so frustrated with how our media keeps saying “stem cell research” when referring to embryonic stem cell research. There are very different and very distinct types of stem cell research and most people don’t know the difference. The public’s ignorance on this issue is extremely frustrating! I believe in somatic stem cell research, but not embryonic for several reasons, but I will only address the scientific ones here:

Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) involves taking stem cells from a blastocyst (an embryo about 4 or 5 days old), which consists of approximately 50 to 150 cells total. The main advantage to ESCs is that we know they are pluripotent. Pluripotent means that the stem cells can develop into any type of cell that is inside of our bodies when given the proper stimulation. HOWEVER, ESCs are naturally programmed to divide continuously and remain undifferentiated. In order to be able to use ESCs, scientists have to be able to differentiate the desired cell type, purify the cell, and then be able to stop cell growth once it has done its job. Scientists can differentiate the specific cell type. However, the highest percentage of purity they have achieved is 80%, which is no where near what is necessary for cell transplantation in humans. Also, scientists still haven’t found a method of halting overgrowth! Cancer is caused by cells’ inability to stop growing! So, why is it that scientists believe they can harness the growth of ESCs when they have yet to cure cancer? Also, despite the other obstacles, the chances of transplant rejection are extremely high with embryonic stem cells. Then there’s the genetic instability of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos (aka “clone” without uterine implantation), since the chance of genetic mutations is exceedingly high. The probability of producing a stable SCNT embryo is less than 4%. Another thing, in more than 10 years worth of ESCR, they have yet to even produce a clinical trial!

Somatic (adult) stem cell research (SSCR) involves taking stem cells from the patient, the blood from the patient’s umbilical cord, or a donor (living or dead). SSCs are multipotent. Multipotent means that the stem cells can develop into several different types of cells, but are limited in that they cannot develop into ANY type. SSCs are typically specialized to a certain group of cells, but in recent years we have found that some SSCs have been able to create cells outside of their group. This has become known as plasticity. Scientists are currently debating as to whether or not SSCs have the potential to be pluripotent just as ESCs are. The chances of transplant rejection or cancer are almost non-existent with SSCs, since the cells are being harvested from the patients own body and are not programmed to continuously divide. HOWEVER, as of now, we are unable to harvest SSCs to be able to create all 200+ cell types in our bodies. This doesn’t mean that they don’t exist, since they clearly have to because their progeny cells are present inside all of our bodies, but it simply means we haven’t been able to FIND them yet! The other issue with SSCs is that they can become damaged by lifestyle choices and environmental conditions. Purifying these stem cells is the normal practice, but it is no where near perfect. Also, the number of stem cells tends to be inversely proportionate to the age of the patient (or donor). These obstacles prove problematic, but are far easier to hurdle than those of ESCs. However, cord blood or primary teeth banking can help the next generation elude those complications, since those SSCs are undamaged, easier to harvest, and plentiful in numbers. Another thing, in more than 40 years worth of SSCR, they have produced numerous therapies and treatments!

To be blunt, as of right now, ESCR is useless. Maybe at a later time it could be of some importance. However, in my opinion, by the time it could be of use, SSCR will have progressed to a point that ESCR will no longer be needed.”

]]> By: jerry w http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77733 jerry w Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:49:16 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77733 Dear author: If you can't bring yourself to create a new issue, could you perhaps trim a few cels off a previous one and clone a new one for us? Inside joke material: BTW, "Cels" was an animation reference, and "issue" was sort of in the same vein. http://boskolives.wordpress.com/ Dear author:
If you can’t bring yourself to create a new issue,
could you perhaps trim a few cels off a previous
one and clone a new one for us?

Inside joke material:
BTW, “Cels” was an animation reference, and
“issue” was sort of in the same vein.

http://boskolives.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Go Middies http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77702 Go Middies Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:56:14 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77702 More.... Jesus... and Mo..... Must.... have.... cartoons..... Slowly.... slipping.... away. More…. Jesus… and Mo…..

Must…. have…. cartoons…..

Slowly…. slipping…. away.

]]> By: Tie http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77689 Tie Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:04:08 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77689 YAY! YAY!

]]> By: author http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77570 author Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:32:49 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77570 Sorry everyone. I took a week off. I usually tell you when I'm going to do that, but this one sort of sneaked up on me. Normal service will be resumed next week, inshallah. Sorry everyone. I took a week off. I usually tell you when I’m going to do that, but this one sort of sneaked up on me. Normal service will be resumed next week, inshallah.

]]> By: mjm202036 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77494 mjm202036 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:20:19 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77494 For those that are harassing Author, please read Poor Richard's last two comments. For those that are harassing Author, please read Poor Richard’s last two comments.

]]> By: Tie http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77478 Tie Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:10:34 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77478 whats going on, where my Jesus and Mo fix? I hope you get back soon! seriously, whats going on, where my Jesus and Mo fix?

I hope you get back soon! seriously,

]]> By: Ophelia Benson http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77475 Ophelia Benson Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:29:35 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77475 Author dear, do you have the flu? Get well soon, whatever it is. Author dear, do you have the flu? Get well soon, whatever it is.

]]> By: Colonel Leisure http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77465 Colonel Leisure Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:20:29 +0000 http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/03/28/sick/#comment-77465 When's the next comic. I'm getting shakes here. When’s the next comic. I’m getting shakes here.

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