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View Full Version : What will happen if there is a shortage of embryonic stem cells?


Stopthinkingsomuch!!!
March 15th, 2009, 6:30 pm
I asked this on Y!Answers and got one pat response. I even discussed this with a co-worker.

So let's say the ban is lifted on research for embryonic stem cells, what will happen if there is a shortage?

I know that part of the supply is going to be obtained from unused in vitro, there is a supply now, because there is a ban on the testing. Once the ban is lifted, the unused in vitro will now be available. If there is an impression that the supply is unlimited or there is surplus, what incentive will researchers have to be frugal? I always taught that it takes a lot of samples to conduct research.

That is one dilemma. Another is that those women still own the legal right to those unused embryos. They can say, discard the unused ones, but the female has to say it. Not to mention that it cost $10,000+ to get the procedure in the first place. I don't see how the supply is going to meet the demand if the ban is lifted? It is not as if there are a lot of women with that much cash, who are going to visit those in vitro clinics, who also do not want the unused embryos, and have them donate them to research. It is hard enough to get people to donate blood and organs.

So. let's say that the government suggest that women donate eggs. Okay, but in college newspapers. they pay up to $3000 to do that, can the government afford that cost. I guess they can ask women to donate. I am not in favor in turning the human body into a warehouse.

troy
March 15th, 2009, 6:32 pm
Octomom to the rescue! I couldn't help myself. Seriously, there is the potential of this becoming big business. I'm just not in favor of the government paying for it.

Stopthinkingsomuch!!!
March 15th, 2009, 6:35 pm
By the way, I heard that egg donation is risky for the donor.

TheDave
March 15th, 2009, 10:15 pm
In Britain scientists are allowed to create hybrids using human DNA and Cow's eggs to overcome the shortage of embryonic cells. Doubt such a thing would ever be considered in the US considering the furore over using embryonic stem cells in the first place.