Stem Cell Research - Adult versus Embryonic Stem Cells / Pro-Life Educational Video PSA

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This video presents the Catholic Church's teaching on human life as it relates to adult and embryonic stem cell research -- courtesy of the Michigan Catholic Conference. Please visit http://www.aodonline.org/AODOnline/AODOnline.htm for more information. There are two different types of stem cell research — adult and embryonic. Adult stem-cell research is ethical, because it does not harm the human embryo, and is proven — as more than 70 different medical conditions are being treated with adult stem cells — whereas embryonic stem-cell research is unproven as no cures or treatments have been identified. Also, embryonic stem-cell research is immoral as it leads to human cloning and necessitates the destruction of the human embryo to extract its stem cells — a profound violation of human life. The Catholic Church supports adult stem cell research and encourages the faithful to do likewise. The Catholic Church supports stem-cell research and therapy utilizing stem cells harvested from adults and umbilical-cord blood. The Church opposes embryonic-stem cell research because the human embryo is destroyed to harvest the stem cells. While embryonic stem-cell research has received considerable publicity and the endorsement of some high-profile celebrities, it is adult stem cell research that has so far yielded the best results. Adult stem-cell research is currently treating more than 70 medical conditions in human patients, including several types of cancer, Parkinson's disease, sickle-cell anemia, Type I diabetes, lymphoma, and many others (a full list can be found at http://www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/treatments.htm). While embryonic stem-cell research requires the destruction of the human embryo — a clear violation of its right to life for anyone with an understanding of Church teaching — adult stem cells are located throughout the human body. Adult stem cells can be found in places such as fat tissue, dental pulp, the amniotic fluid that surrounds unborn babies, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. Bone marrow and cord blood can be donated and stored in order to help others who are suffering from severely debilitating diseases. Information about how to donate bone marrow is located at http://www.marrow.org. Information on how to donate and store cord blood is located at http://www.miblood.org. A stem cell is an unspecialized cell. Stem cells have the potential to develop into a full range of tissues that constitute the human body. This makes them so attractive to researchers. The science of cell therapy concentrates on ways to replace, repair or enhance the biological function of damaged tissues or organs in the body. What are embryonic stem cells? At the very beginning of human life, the sperm and egg come together to form an embryo. After that embryo has grown for about 5-7 days, it contains embryonic stem cells which can be extracted. In this procedure, the embryo is killed. Similar embryonic-type stem cells can also be obtained from aborted fetuses. The extracted cells are then cultivated in a laboratory, replicating over and over again. What are adult stem cells and from where do they come? Fortunately, embryos are not the only source of stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in the individual at any time after birth. There are a number of ethical sources of stem cells that hold out realistic hope for cures and treatments of diseases. Stem cells from adult tissues, which are committed to differentiating into a limited number of cell types such as liver, brain or blood, are called adult stem cells. These too have the capability of developing into specific tissues. Adult-type stem cells can also be derived from various pregnancy-related sources such as umbilical cords, placentas and amniotic fluid. Some scientists today assert that not only are adult stem cells more readily available but they are also more effective in treating diseases.

Category: News
Uploaded: July 12th, 2008 @ 11:37 am
Author: rosaryfilms

Length: 12:42
Rating: Whole StarWhole StarWhole StarHalf Star
Views: 949

Tags: adult blastocyst catholic cell cells church cloning cord embryo embryonic esc ethics human injuries injury life moral morality morals nerve nuclear pro-life prolife regenerating regeneration research roman science scientific scnt somactic spinal stem stem-cell teachings therapeutic transfer

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