If you haven’t heard about it, question the bias of your news source. If you have heard about the apparent success with amniotic stem cells but nothing about its comparison with embryonic stem cells, keep questioning. If you’ve heard that amniotic stem cells might be an answer, you might be listening to the right source.

According to Regenerative Medicine and Nature Biotechnology, one can capture 1% true stem cells in amniotic fluid. And shockingly, it doesn’t destroy a fertilized cell(a human), and discard the soul. These amniotic fluid-derived stem cells(AFSC’s) actually represent an intermediate stage between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. The work to prove they were usable stem cells began over 7 years ago.

The AFSC’s actually double in number every 36 hours, dividing at least 250 times without mutating, and without any tumors developed with embryonic stem cells. In fact, they remain stable for years without developing tumors. Dr. David Prentice(recognized expert on stem cells) said this exciting news from scientists, particularly at Wake Forest, gives “…no rational reason to pursue embryo destruction from stem cells; those who still want embryo research are interested in politics, not patients.”

The Washington Post(1/10) says they[AFSC’s] grow as fast as embryonic stem cells, and they show great pluripotentiality(becoming many types of tissues). It has been known for decades that both the placenta(afterbirth) and amniotic fluid contain multiple progenitor cell types from the developing embryo, including fat, bone, and muscle. It’s interesting how all this groundbreaking information comes out now, but coincides with similar findings from the University of Pittsburg. In 2005 they discovered that the placenta could be a rich source of embryo-like stem cells. Also in 2005, Dr. Dario Fauza(Boston Children’s Hospital) discovered a number of possible uses for AFSC’s to treat birth defects.

But on 1/10/07 the Domestic Policy Council(US) admitted that embryos are human beings. The Council writes “Embryos are humans in their earliest developmental stage. To speak of ‘an embryo’ is to designate a human being at a particular stage.” Coordinating all domestic policy making in the White House, the Council made these unequivocal statements about the human embryo in a report entitled “Advancing Stem Cell Science without Destroying Human Life”. The report condemns destruction of fertilized human embryos, and discusses other sources of stem cells, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cells. The report finally says, “In sum, it increasingly appears that the qualities researchers value in embryonic cells may also exist in other stem cells that are easier to procure, more stable to grow, safer to use in therapies, and free of the ethical violations of embryo destruction.” Tony Snow(White House) told reporters, “Obviously there’s a difference between using amniotic stem cells that do not, by design, involve the destruction of a human life, and embryonic stem cell research, which does.”

Coincidentally, the House is expected to vote this week on its version of the legislation.  Rep. Diana DeGette(Co/“D”) and Senator Tom Harkin(Ia/“D”) both say that they don’t expect the news of the amniotic stem cells to change the minds of those who voted for the funding bill. Both the House and the Senate are expected to approve embryonic stem cell research funding, but the House is not predicted to overturn Bush’s veto.

But let’s get this straight. Already, humans with at least 72 different diseases or conditions have received therapeutic benefit from treatment with ‘adult’ stem cells. Embryonic stem cells have not even been tested in humans because of the dangers demonstrated in animal studies, including frequent formation of tumors. Many types of stem cell research are known to be worthwhile that do not raise ethical objections. We’re voting for governmental monies for embryonic research because no private organizations will ‘pony up’ the money to do it, yet we scream when money is spent in the war against terrorism on every American? And we are willing to kill a “life” for the distant hope that a cure can be found, when ethical cures await us now?

Logic cannot be an explanation. But politics lies beneath the surface. If embryonic research is not government funded(even though no ban exists), and people are correct about destroying a ‘life’ with a ‘soul’ with ESCR, abortion itself would now fall into that same category of killing a ‘life’. The Roe vs. Wade ‘wall’ begins to break and tumble with that revelation. Will literally millions admit a mistake, and possibly admit that their party has led them astray? Not a chance in Hades. Pride runs deep. But isn’t ‘pride’ one of the seven deadly sins?

Kevin Roeten
http://kevinroeten.us/