Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Proven Alternative Sources of Embryonic Stem Cells?

Are there any alternative sources of embryonic stem cells other than that of an embryo from IVF, that is proven to and has performed the exact functions of ESC? If there are other sources, and are close to ESC but not exactly the same [maybe one more disadvantage possibility], please list it. evidence and websites appreciated.

Public Comments

1. There are no other sources of Embryonic stem cells but there are such things as Adult stem cells, obtains from areas around the body, that work in near the same way as ESCs. Look up Adult Stem Cells on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/adult_stem_cells
2. Well, you asked about alternative sources for EMBRYONIC stem cells other than Invitro Fertilization. Who is to say that if we allow embryonic stem cell harvesting via IVF the next step wouldn't be harvesting embryonic stem cells from fetuses already existing in the womb? That IS another source of stem cells. There doesn't seem to be any limit as to what some people would do because they do not consider that life begins at conception. That is a plausible discussion point, because at one time no one ever thought that we would be trying to reproduce ourselves by cloning either. There are people who would not blink at the thought of beginning a human life and then sacrificing that life "for posterity's sake." How far are we willing to go? Hmmmmm....now on to the rest of your question. ADULT STEM CELLS Here more information about the adult stem cell: it can renew itself-which makes it a better candidate for research. Research on an adult stem cell does not require the destruction of a potential (or present living, as some believe) human life. Here are some other websites that are very informational on this subject. http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jan/05012007.html - Adult stem cell success stories http://www.cogforlife.org/adultStemCellSuccess.htm - Adult stem cell success stories http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/winter01/stem_cell.html http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics4.asp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell There is actually more SCIENTIFIC proof of the success of adult stem cells over that of embryonic stem cells. There is not as much controversy over adult stem cell research and the federal government has even funded it because it does not destroy life. and don't forget CORD BLOOD STEM CELLS http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1160.asp http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/cord_blood.html Perhaps if we made cord blood banking mandatory for every new baby born (hospital policy) those stem cells would be there if that person ever needed them. In that case, that person would not have to seek out the destruction of another life in order to preserve his or her own life......? Just a thought. * If there is even the slightest evidence that there is a better way to find cures than by destroying the most innocent life, don't we owe it to our children to study it?