Tominator Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 OK, I started a healthy debate in the sports forum, so here's my attempt at it in the lounge. What are your thoughts on this? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/health/14heart.html Scientists recently developed a functioning rat heart from stem cells. Please don't make this political, that's another forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Technology like this can do nothing but help the medical community. I'm always amazed what Drs and scientists come up with. Awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 It seems if you leave scientists alone they will come up with some startling discoveries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Coming from a guy who has lost a lung, thyroid, thymus, spleen, 75% of my parathyroids, and 60% of my pancreas, this bodes very well for my boys who have the same genetic problem I do. My wife was telling me that doctors are now able to do this with another type of cell, not stem cells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 ok i heard this on the news last night, if it does work where are they gonna draw the line, are they gonna say hey this kids is legal dead but hes young, lets give him a new heart, say an older person dies, what do they say then do they say their old its just their time, or do they give them a new heart to keep them alive, where is the line drawn to as where people recieve this medical work, cause everyone can't get it because we cant keep everyone on this planet for ever, it seems it might mess up a natural part of life, i dont know it just seems wierd to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 That is incredible news for sure No doubt. Medicine and science has done so much to get rid of natural selection among humans. Without it many would not be here. It does take US into some uncharted waters though. Would only the rich receive this treatment? The sick? The young/old? It looks like a good start to helping humans live longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Looks like another great way to pour money into research so my medical bills, insurance and perscriptions can triple again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 yea, but i understand they will only use those rat hearts to transplant into lawyers... lol i have mixed emotions about growing "extra" parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missilelock Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I dont have an intelligent reason for my oppinion on this, but for some reason something in my gut just says its wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 This type of discussion has been brought up here before Chris, and almost think it is more a religious topic than a political topic. At some point it becomes a matter of playing God. The technology is and has been there to create life from cells for quite some time and research has been being done for quite some time. Last night on the nbc nightly news there was a story on cloning animals and the safety of human consumption of those animals. I think to some extent the technology is wonderful, but at some point it may cross the line and does cross the line. I do not believe in creating a life just to harvest the organs from that life. When that life is created whether it be a clone or not, it is still a life and that life at some point after its creation does have the ability to think on its own. Extending the life of a sick person at the cost of creating and killing another is just not ethically right in my eyes. If this can be done as with the rats and the heart or other organs created without having to create a life, I guess it may be ethical in my eyes, but then you have to look at the extension of lives and the expenses, who gets the transplants(only those who are wealthy) while the tab for the research is picked up by who(taxpayers)? That then becomes somehwat of a political issue. Honestly I dont know, I can see where for people whose time should not be up, that it would be great, but I think it can become dangerous when we get to the point that technology has people living well past the time that they are supposed to be here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Ever see that movie "The Island"? Taking it THAT far is wrong in my opinion. But creating organs WITHOUT creating then killing another human life is fine. God gave us brains....we should use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Andrea said: But creating organs WITHOUT creating then killing another human life is fine. God gave us brains....we should use them. This is basically how I feel too. The principal ability we possess that makes us human is our ability to shape, manipulate, and change the world for our benefit/ survival. If we forego or impede this type type of progress based on a certain groups ideals or beliefs, I think we'd be doing a major disservice to someone who has a genetic problem like yourself, Chris. If this technology can be used to make a paralyzed person walk, or to cure cancer, I don't see how I could be against it. That being said, I also feel it would have to be closely monitored and controlled- and only used to cure extreme health issues etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks for your thoughts folks. I must say I have to hold my typing on some comments here, but, again, I approach this from a very biased stance. I really miss a full set of lungs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 There is no doubt that our advances in medicine and science in general can and have increased our quality of life. These same advances have lengthened the average life span which on an individual basis is (sometimes) a wonderful thing, but, as a species it is not a good thing. The world population of humans has already surpassed the point of no return barring a massive die off. We are consuming and producing garbage faster than the earth can accommodate us. Our very intelligence will eventually be the end of the planet. We have reached a point where we have 60 and 70 year old people taking care of their 80 and 90 year old parents. No part of the planet is immune to the pollution we pump into the air and water. Trying to keep everyone alive who would, under "natural" conditions, have died, has led to a decline in overall health of the human race. "A better life through chemistry" approach has left many of us to rely on an outside factor to maintain ourselves. Any attempt to prolong life becomes little more than a tremendous waste of limited resources with no overall benefit to the species as a whole. Of course there is the warm fuzzy feeling should we succeed and the awe of it all, but in the end the results are the same. Lastly, who should pay for the research? You can bet most of the research is funded by tax payers dollars, through government grants, and the only ones who will be able to afford it will be the wealthy. Bad idea and a waste of money and resources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Tominator said: Thanks for your thoughts folks. I must say I have to hold my typing on some comments here, but, again, I approach this from a very biased stance. I really miss a full set of lungs. Well Chris, you could always move this to the political or religious room and post your own thoughts to open it up for debate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 wtnhunt said: Well Chris, you could always move this to the political or religious room and post your own thoughts to open it up for debate. Nope. Really not worth it. I come from too biased a position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 well chris i don't really have an opinion on this subject. really havent given it much thought. but i imagine alot of peoples opinions so far would change if it came down to them or their loved life being saved or prolonged. i can see where you are coming from though i would have no idea how it would feel. i geuss if it could save a life or better one than why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 just one more thought on this subject. if you talk about ethics and religiuos beliefs and say that this type of thing is wrong thats fine. but in the same line of thinking didn't god create these scientists also. are we not all put on this earth for a purpose? who's to say that their purpose wasn't to do just this:confused: i don't know i geuss but like i said in a previous post alot of views on this subject may change when/if its one of your own loved ones who's life is on the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 Not to make this political or anything but I say it's about dang time they made a heart for a rat. Hillary's been missing hers for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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