The quickly approaching of the mid term elections bring all the special interest champions out into the limelight. Advocates for special interests ranging from the atmosphere to animal rights all view the political method as a signifies to advance their causes. Chief among these media darlings devoted to a social agenda is Michael J. Fox.
Mr. Fox has enabled scientists to carry out some incredible research in regards to Parkinson's illness (PD). The Michael J. Fox Foundation has awarded extra the seventy million dollars in scientific grants involving extra than two hundred research projects in eighteen nations.
Among the wide array of projects supported by the Fox Foundation is a gene therapy that injects a virus with a gene developed by the team of Dr. Raymond Bartus into the brain. The theory behind this study is that seeding the malfunctioning area of the brain will trigger it to begin creating Dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone like neurotransmitter.
The Cleveland Clinics: Glossary of Parkinson's illness Terms defines Dopamine as
A chemical developed by the brain it assists in the productive transmission of messages from 1 nerve cell to the next. Individuals with Parkinson's have decreased amounts of the chemical in the basal ganglia and substantia nigra, two structures positioned deep in the brain. Dopamine coordinates the actions of movement, balance, and walking.
A different study at the University of Florida supported by the Fox Foundation is led by Dr. Christine Sapienza. This group of scientist are operating on curing a symptom of PD, that of difficulty swallowing. This could appear trivial at first blush until you learn that the leading trigger of death in a PWP (Person with Parkinson's) is aspiration pneumonia. Water leaking into the airway causing infection, pneumonia and death.
In Beijing China compounds discovered in green tea are getting study in the occasion that they could slow the progression of PD. Once again supported financially by the Fox Foundation.
Parkinson's illness is a particularly extremely misunderstood illness. There are an estimated 1 and a half million consumers in the United States suffering from PD. It is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects the Dopamine creating area of the brain. This loss of Dopamine can trigger at rest tremors, a slowness of movement, rigidity of trunk and limbs and impaired balance. These are only the primary symptoms of PD with dozens of secondary symptoms. PD is a quietly devastating illness.Mr. Fox has joined the political method to promote Stem Cell research, especially Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR). Mr. Fox and our media have purchased into the claims of specific members of the scientific community that embryonic stem cells are the outstanding panacea, the magic bullet, and a remedy all resolution. Reality is not a single therapy has been created making use of Embryonic Stem Cells.
Diana Kapp in The $3 Billion Cell Job states [1] "Not a single embryonic stem cell has ever been tested in a human getting, for any illness."
Read what she says carefully, not only are their no therapies making use of ESCR, but no research project has progressed to the stage of testing on humans. This following twenty five years of research and testing on embryonic stem cells obtained from mice.
Stuart Newman, Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College wrote [two] "there had been essentially no progress in curing or even palliating disabling conditions for which mouse 'models' existed, such as diabetes, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's and so forth."
No progress towards a remedy for diabetes, spinal cord injury or PD, not even to relieving the symptoms of these tragic disabling conditions. Neither a single remedy nor relief of the any of the symptoms linked with these illnesses.
A leading advocate of ESCR when asked how long it will take for embryonic stem cell based therapies to be ready, gives the following answer [3] "My answer is five years,' he said. 'It's the same issue as saying I have no notion.'"
That is about as sincere an answer as you are most likely to get in the debate more than ESCR. As sincere as it is telling, no 1 actually can say definitively that ESCR will create a remedy in the next a variety of decades, or even if 1 can be developed.
Quoting Mr. Fox in an interview with Katie Couric on April 16 of 2006 "not all politicians are on the same page as scientists. Parkinson's professionals believe in stem cell research as a promising prospect for a remedy. But the supply of those cells - human embryos -- touches a sensitive nerve in the nation's capitol.
Either Mr. Fox is not getting completely truthful or he does not fully comprehend the claims he tends to make in the above statement. He implies that all scientists are in agreement with his belief that ESCR is the next outstanding remedy all. That politicians, especially those in Washington are to be blamed for its lack of progress.
A case against this point of view can be created from a letter written through the 2004 Presidential election by fifty-seven noted research scientists and physicians. The signatories coming from such renowned research facilities as the Mayo Clinic, Georgetown Medical School, Harvard Medical School, and the National Cancer Institute. In this letter written to the Kerry - Edwards campaign relating to their statements on ESCR these same scientists accuse the campaign of getting irresponsible, unsafe and misleading.
Third, the statements you have created relating to the purported medical applications of embryonic stem cells reach far beyond any credible evidence, ignoring the limited state of our expertise about embryonic stem cells and the advances in other places of research that could render use of these cells unnecessary for a large number of applications. To make such exaggerated claims, at this stage of our expertise, is not only scientifically irresponsible - it is deceptive and cruel to millions of patients and their families who hope desperately for cures and have come to rely on the scientific community for accurate info. (Ad-hoc group of Scientists Letter to the Kerry - Edwards Campaign October 27th 2004)
Following chastising the political campaign of Kerry-Edwards the letter continues on to describe how research and therapy of non-controversial adult stem cells have currently treated and cured thousands of dozens of illnesses.
Non-embryonic stem cells have been discovered in a large number of unexpected tissues - in blood, nerve, fat, skin, muscle, umbilical cord blood, placenta, even dental pulp - and dozens of scientific studies indicate that they are far extra versatile than as soon as believed. Use of these cells poses no serious ethical problem, and could stay clear of all difficulties of tissue rejection if stem cells can be obtained from a patient for use in that same patient. Clinical use of non-embryonic stem cells has grown significantly in latest years. In contrast to embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells are in established or experimental use to treat human patients with a variety of dozen conditions, according to the National Institutes of Wellness and the National Marrow Donor Plan (Cong. Record, September 9, 2004, pages H6956-7). They have been or are getting assessed in human trials for therapy of spinal cord injury, Parkinson's illness, stroke, cardiac damage, various sclerosis , and so on.
Adult Stem Cells are plentiful, convenient to get and come with out the moral, ethical and medical baggage of Embryonic Stem Cells. They have and are getting applied to treat "a variety of dozen conditions", presently.
Once again we see that the medically extra advanced adult stem cells are a superior alternative to those taken at an embryonic state. This is a scientific fact. The later in the gestation period a cell has achieved the extra stable it becomes. Cells taken at the earliest or blastocyst stage (5 to 6 days) are extremely volatile, tough to function with and most likely to trigger tumors. Later in the development cycle the cell stabilizes and becomes the sort of cell it was designed to be.
Mr. Fox is also wrong in his perception of what pro life is and what is not. Once again a quote from the Katie Couric interview, Mr. Fox in response to a question about the "millions of Americans who get the notion of destroying embryos immoral" :
I would say that, from my opinion, it really is an outstanding pro-life issue to do to take those cells and to endeavor to strengthen the lives of millions and billions of consumers that are alive now and will be alive in the future by coming up with cures--and remedies for illnesses.
His notion of pro life and mine vary significantly. The standard premise to his answer is that of the pro abortion movement. The notion that lives at numerous stages of development are of unequal value and that some stages are of tiny to no value. A different way of saying the same issue would be that the unborn lack some issue that the new born has acquired. This is the slippery slope we get ourselves on at present, and have been treading ever downward considering the fact that Roe v. Wade.
All life, the stage of development not withstanding is important in the eyes of our Creator. The Bible teaches that males and ladies were developed in the image of God
So God developed man in his own image, in the image of God he developed him male and female he developed them. Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
Combined with the instruction of the 5th commandment delivered to Moses in Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder. (NIV)
This tends to make it crucial that we are to guard life, from its particularly beginning to its natural finish. Life is sacred gift. This truth is unrelated to circumstance or circumstance. Destroying a human embryo is destroying a living human getting. Any middle school biology student know that life beings when the cell divides. ESCR destroys a human getting. Michael J. Fox knows this. The scientist proponents of ESCR know this. They have their own factors for pushing their agenda.
As a fellow PD patient myself, my outlook on life and its sanctity are particularly numerous from that of Mr. Fox. I have learned to look for the blessing in all factors, even PD. It is the difference in between a post modern day worldview and a Christian worldview. When 1 learns that God is soverign and will allow nothing at all that can not be applied to His glory to happen, it gives life a new meaning.
Stem Cell Research can be helpful to human kind when completed correctly. It can be tremendously destructive when completed outside the bounds of propriety. We ought to place aside our private agendas and educate 1 a further to the details. Stem Cell Research on Adult stem cells supplies outstanding promise of even extra therapies and remedies in the close to future.
In conclusion I want to address Mr. Fox straight by saying, Michael you have completed outstanding factors with your foundation, all in your own strength. Then again you will by no means get accurate happiness or peace until you come to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. It staggers my imagination what you could accomplish were you only acting in His will and not your own. As the Apostle Paul writing from a Roman prison cell explains it
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every single circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and require. I can do all factors by way of him who strengthens me. Philippians four:12-13 (ESV)
I will pray that you God gives you Michael the wisdom to discern the truth relating to the destruction of embryos and the sanctity of human life. That he will soften your heart and that you will select to let Him in. That you will continue to do His function, His way. All in the name of Jesus, Amen
[1] Diana Kapp, "The $3 Billion Cell Job," San Francisco, January, 2005[two] Stuart Newman, Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, "Averting the Clone Age: Prospects and Perils of Human Developmental Manipulation," J. Contemporary Wellness Law and Policy,Vol.19:2003, pp.446-447[3] Jonathan Bor, "Stem Cells: A Long Road Ahead," The Baltimore Sun, 3/eight/04
Clyde Annach is the operator of the Net Log Aha! Clyde's been thinking again!
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