[airtas]

ok more than likely stem cells is the cure for diabetes so


who is better for this


bush or kerry?

[HeatherP]

My understanding (and not necessarily completely accurate) is that Bush will only allow the existing strings of stem cells to be used for research. I've heard there's 10 and 60 strands, I'm not sure.

Kerry will allow additional strands to be released for research and so more resources to work with will allow more extensive research.

I think I've got the gist of it, but I'm sure there are others here who have a much more in-depth understanding of the details.

HeatherP

[Harold]

ok more than likely stem cells is the cure for diabetes so

While stem cell RESEARCH may lead to a cure stem cells themselves are not likely to do so. Understanding why beta cells stop producing insulin or why the immune system attacked them and how to reverse it will be required before stem cells will help.

who is better for this


bush or kerry?

From experience, never expect a politician to keep a promise unless it is in THEIR interest. So unless one of these guys has a desease that could be cured by stem cells don't hold your breath.

[Dewey]

Hi Airtas,

I'm inclined to agree with Harold on the question of which candidate to trust with regards to stem cell research.

On another note, while I'm not too keen about the work with stem cells regarding Diabetes, I will say that Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients (who've experienced a recurrence of the cancer) have had a successful cure rate of 99.8% Those are very good results, and to me, it sounds like stem cells hold alot of promise for people with diseases such as Cancer and Diabetes.

[nickh]

Boy oh boy, I hate it when science gets mixed in with politics.

The truth rarely comes out and expectations become wildly exagerated. I remember back in the 80's when Reagan pushed funding for superconductors to the forefront. The expectation was that they would be the gateway to marvelous technological advances that would drive our economy. Other than a few MagLev trains and MRI's, this hasn't materialized.

Back to the original question - in the long run Kerry may be the better choice for stem cell research. HeatherP is partly correct. Bush hasn't banned stem cell research as has been claimed by Kerry. In fact, he was the first president to allow federal funding for stem cell research. However, Bush has banned *funding* for research done on *new* human embryonic stem cells.

A recent article that I read stated there are currently 22 lines of stem cells available, which somehow translates into 3500 available samples for researchers. To date, only about 100 have been requested.

Meanwhile, the Genome News Network states that there are 70 lines available, but of these only 9 are viable for many types of research because the others contain mice cells.

Also, the NIH website states that there are 13 lines available (but that data is a year old).

In short, it really isn't clear to me how large the current supply is and how long it will meet the demand.


Lastly, I would like to emphasize several points:

- The current ban on new stem cell research is for federal funding. Institutions such as universities, research hospitals, and pharmaceuticals can still perform the research if they pay for it on their own.

- Guard yourself against false hope and those who are willing to make a political football out of it. The recent deaths of Ronald Reagan and Christopher Reeve have spurred some wild claims. I just keep in mind this quote: "Ronald D.G. McKay, a stem cell researcher at NIH, has admitted publicly that stem cells as an Alzheimer's cure are a fiction, but that 'people need a fairy tale.' ''

[nickh]

BTW, here's a link to info on stem cell research for diabetes:

http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/news/stem_cell.shtml

[mike9876]

Will this research help type 2's who are insuline resistant. If it cured type 1 and not type 2 as well there will confusion caused by the media saying diabetes can be cured. It will give the impression everybody will benefit only to disappoint many with diabetes.

[mg_2204]

I agree with Harold! Politicians promise stuff in order to get votes. They also shake hands, kiss babies, cut ribbons, visit the elderly...

[Ashtur]

mike9876... well assuming either can be cured, it's evident that one will be cured before the other. Which one will it be? Tough guess, but I'd suspect Type 1, but not for a fair bit of time (at least a decade for clinical trial success, probably much more).

Oddly, while I certainly don't look for it, if there is a "bolt out of the blue" out there, it's for T2.. (I'd rate it as less than 1% chance)

Oh well, on to stem cells, just remember, you are asking politicans to make ethical decisions.

Is there a group less capable of dealing with ethics than politicians?

[mike9876]

It doesn't look good at the moment stem cell research with bush looking likely win. I can't believe how americans could vote him back in. Another 4 years of **** for the world, what will this idiot do next. Americans can say goodbye to more jobs, if he wins be prepared for hard times for the ordinanry american and the rich lining their pockets even more.

I see on my tv states have voted stem cell research I don't know how that will affect how much research is done.

[rzrbks]

The main thing to keep in mind is that research is going to lead to Some Very Strange Places.

The reason we are able to sit here and communicate this way is thanks to the Space Race and all the research that was done to put a man on the moon.

Micro-miniaturization led to computer, synthetics, and the new forms of insulin that we now have + all the wonderful monitoring equipment that is available to us.

Who would have thought that sending men to the Moon would give all this great stuff to us?

Research, by the Government, Always pays off---rarely to the Government, but always to the people.