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I know there is great misunderstanding about stem cell research and some fundamentalist will immediately say NO to even contemplating it.
However stem cells can be harvested from the umbilical cord, if done as part or immediately after the birthing process. Indeed Richard Branson (Of Virgin airlines and others, fame [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ) has now proposed to set up a stem cell bank in the UK, where parents for a consideration of 1,500 punds would be able to store their children stem cells should it ever be needed to cure genetic diseases. The most interesting thing about the bank that will be funded by Richard Branson, is that 20% of the collected cells of an individual will be stored for the exclusive use by the child/parents if needed, the other 80% will be available to research, to save others live (by matching etc.) a bit like blood donation.
I am very interested in anyone that would have a religious basec objection to it! Please do post a reply. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
In the UK the objection comes from the gynecologists and midwifes that think they may put under extra pressure to collect those samples and therefore increase the risk of problem with birth. I am much more interested in comments from anyone that has a moral or theological argument against the use of an umbilical cord (which is usually discarded) in such a way.
Here is a link to an article in "The Guardian" about this.
I hope that there are no responses to this post! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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There are several places that store umbilical stem cells in the U.S. It is utterly routine, it is cheaper than the 1500 pounds mentioned above, and 100% of the collected cells of an individual are stored for the exclusive use by the child/parents if needed, as well as a much increased supply if/when effective amplification techniques become available.