LIVE DIscussion: Nov 27
This is where you can post your thoughts, questions and comments during the conference.
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 10:56 AM by: Terry Godwaldt (Moderator)
44 Replies
Just a check. Can anyone see this post?
yes
wyton-Hannah wrote:
yes
Thanks for replying.
So if there are adult stem cells in a place like the brain, would the cells it producs be used to repair your spinal cord or other nervous system injuries? Would stem cells from one organ be able to help another?
wyton-Johnathan wrote:
So if there are adult stem cells in a place like the brain, would the cells it producs be used to repair your spinal cord or other nervous system injuries? Would stem cells from one organ be able to help another?
From my understanding multipotent stem cells can only be used to replace areas that the cell can differentiate into. However, there are certain multipotent stem cells that have been re-engineered to replace other areas as well (liver stem calls can also be used for kidney - needs cross reference).
Why is embryonic stem cell banned in Canada to grow?
wyton-Nishanth wrote:
Why is embryonic stem cell banned in Canada to grow?
The exact reasoning is related to the transaction of human tissues. Just as selling organs illegally (black market etc.) the creation of stem cells is also illegal.
http://www.torys.com/Publications/Documents/Publication%20PDFs/AR2008-42.pdf
-edit-
Michelle Ralston, Research Assistant, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, "Stem Cell Research Around the World," Pew Forum, July 17, 2008, found at Pew Forum International article. Accessed April 13, 2009.
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 11:36 AM by: ainley-Jarrett
wyton-Nishanth wrote:
Why is embryonic stem cell banned in Canada to grow?
Ethics issues, I'd guess in large part related to religion seeing as a large part of the population does have strong ties to religion.
EDIT: The poster above me is probably right, I'm not very knowledgeable on the topic.
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 11:33 AM by: wyton-Johnathan
Many countries have issues related to the definition of life, specifically when life develops, as defined by their dominant religion(s). If a religion's viewpoint is that life begins at the point of conception, then the use of embrionic stem cells means that you are taking a human life. This is why we are including the viewpoints of multiple religions.
Question from Dr. EP Scarlett
Does the religous majority in a country have effects on its policies and public position on stem cells research? Are there countries who's policies or public opinion go against its religous majority?
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 11:43 AM by: wyton-Johnathan
Could stem cells theoretically replace neural cells in the brain to assist and/or perform neurogenesis?
wyton-Johnathan wrote:
So if there are adult stem cells in a place like the brain, would the cells it producs be used to repair your spinal cord or other nervous system injuries? Would stem cells from one organ be able to help another?
Great question! Maybe. The neuronal precursors in the brain could potentially be turned into cells that can repair a spinal cord injury because they (probably) all come from the same precursors. I am not a brain expert though!
In general stem cells from one organ could only help another organ if they were dedifferentiated into a more potent state.
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 12:05 PM by: Cara Ellis
wyton-Arash wrote:
Could stem cells theoretically replace neural cells in the brain to assist and/or perform neurogenesis?
Yes. Several neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's can be cured.
What is the accessibility of stem cells to the general populace in terms of treatment?
wyton-Nishanth wrote:
Why is embryonic stem cell banned in Canada to grow?
In Canada we decided that there needs be tight control over how we use stem cells. This would be difficult to do if each research center could grow there own embryonic stems.
Why are eyelashes part of stem-cell benefits?
ainley-Alexander wrote:
What is the accessibility of stem cells to the general populace in terms of treatment?
It all depends on how much strust you have in the treatment and how much money you have. I doubt most insurances have coverage for such treaments, soother then volunteering for clinical trials I would think it would cost you tens or maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars.
ainley-Alexander wrote:
What is the accessibility of stem cells to the general populace in terms of treatment?
I'm not inclined to answer your question since you sit DIRECTLY across from me.
Are technologies used for eyelash treatments really worth the amount of funds that are necessary in order to produce successful results?
Time for a question from me; does anyone know the financial cost of a stem cell procedure?
ainley-Shengxi wrote:
Are technologies used for eyelash treatments really worth the amount of funds that are necessary in order to produce successful results?
I think that in regards to research such as lengthening eyelashes, it's not so much about the medical research as it is about the potential for a business to sell these procedures to people who will buy them on a large scale.
ainley-Shengxi wrote:
Are technologies used for eyelash treatments really worth the amount of funds that are necessary in order to produce successful results?
I WILL answer your Q Shawn; if there's funding for it, it will probably happen.
-edit-
/support Alandra
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 12:03 PM by: ainley-Jarrett
ainley-Jarrett wrote:
ainley-Alexander wrote:
What is the accessibility of stem cells to the general populace in terms of treatment?
I'm not inclined to answer your question since you sit DIRECTLY across from me.
Answer the question for the benefit of the entire community please.
So when will stem cell research be developed to the point where a regular Joe can just walk into a clinic and replace his leg and what are the estimated costs for the treatment.
The general public would not yet have access to stem cell therapies, except through participating in clinical trials. This is to protect the public from unsafe therapies that haven't been yet proven!
If theoretically we are able to use stem cells to replace damaged organs, would it be possible to regenerate limbs one day as our technologies advance?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning
According to this wikipedia article, in 2004 there has been an attempt at cloning embryo's. What do you take on this, and do you think that it was ever really done or was the doctor lying?
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
Why are eyelashes part of stem-cell benefits?
Just because it is a cosmetic benefit doesn't mean it isn't a benefit!
wyton-Wendy wrote:
If theoretically we are able to use stem cells to replace damaged organs, would it be possible to regenerate limbs one day as our technologies advance?
Although that day is far away in terms of the medical and technological sophistication required for such a therapy, I believe that it would be possible.
If cloning makes money, in canada would it be free or would it not consider to be medical treatment?
wyton-Johnathan wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning
According to this wikipedia article, in 2004 there has been an attempt at cloning embryo's. What do you take on this, and do you think that it was ever really done or was the doctor lying?
As cloning (in all forms, including the cloning of embryos) was banned in the United States and Canada it could be inferred that attempts were made.
tattersail wrote:
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
Why are eyelashes part of stem-cell benefits?
Just because it is a cosmetic benefit doesn't mean it isn't a benefit!
Benefits are benefits, but just who do these benefits benefit?
wyton-Johnathan wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning
According to this wikipedia article, in 2004 there has been an attempt at cloning embryo's. What do you take on this, and do you think that it was ever really done or was the doctor lying?
Isn't using a site like wikipedia not exactly trustworthy? Especially on a topic on this where there is a high potential for people to add false information due to conspiracy theories.
ainley-Shengxi wrote:
Are technologies used for eyelash treatments really worth the amount of funds that are necessary in order to produce successful results?
It is for companies like Lancombe. They do all their research with their own money, from their profits. As far as I know, there are no academic scientists doing research on eyelash therapies! I can't imagine getting funding for that kind of thing!
wyton-Johnathan wrote:
If cloning makes money, in canada would it be free or would it not consider to be medical treatment?
The purpose of cloning would not benefit the health of the individual in question. Therefore, I doubt the Canadian government and normal insurance policies would cover cloning in the future.
This post was edited on: 2012-11-27 at 12:13 PM by: ainley-Bo
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
tattersail wrote:
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
Why are eyelashes part of stem-cell benefits?
Just because it is a cosmetic benefit doesn't mean it isn't a benefit!
Benefits are benefits, but just who do these benefits benefit?
The companies selling the products benefit by making money. The consumer would benefit in the same way they benefit in buying any other beauty product!
tattersail wrote:
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
tattersail wrote:
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
Why are eyelashes part of stem-cell benefits?
Just because it is a cosmetic benefit doesn't mean it isn't a benefit!
Benefits are benefits, but just who do these benefits benefit?
The companies selling the products benefit by making money. The consumer would benefit in the same way they benefit in buying any other beauty product!
In my opinion, medical research for most researchers and companies with interest in the stem cell field are for the basis of profit or fame rather than for the good of mankind. It is profit which drives ambition and if eyelash research can yield profits then that is the starting point.
ainley-Jarrett wrote:
wyton-Wendy wrote:
If theoretically we are able to use stem cells to replace damaged organs, would it be possible to regenerate limbs one day as our technologies advance?
Although that day is far away in terms of the medical and technological sophistication required for such a therapy, I believe that it would be possible.
Absolutely. This is called regenerative medicine, and it is the Holy Grail for stem cell research.
How exactly would you "clone" a human? Wouldn't the only way you could clone anything would be to take a totipotent cell from the morula, and then wouldn't that just basically make it a twin? Could you clone anything other than these totipotent cells?
ainley-Alandra wrote:
How exactly would you "clone" a human? Wouldn't the only way you could clone anything would be to take a totipotent cell from the morula, and then wouldn't that just basically make it a twin? Could you clone anything other than these totipotent cells?
That would essentially be the case. The clone and the original would have the same DNA structure but the two beings would have two separate consciences.
ainley-Bo wrote:
tattersail wrote:
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
tattersail wrote:
ainley-Zhibo wrote:
Why are eyelashes part of stem-cell benefits?
Just because it is a cosmetic benefit doesn't mean it isn't a benefit!
Benefits are benefits, but just who do these benefits benefit?
The companies selling the products benefit by making money. The consumer would benefit in the same way they benefit in buying any other beauty product!
In my opinion, medical research for most researchers and companies with interest in the stem cell field are for the basis of profit or fame rather than for the good of mankind. It is profit which drives ambition and if eyelash research can yield profits then that is the starting point.
In my experience as a scientist, I would say that isn't true. We don't actually profit very much from our research, and the fame could be big in the field but it isn't world wide fame. Had you even heard of Till & McCulloch, two of the biggest names in the field? I find working on diabetes extremely rewarding because I know I can help sick people, especially sick children, and I am neither rich nor famous!
So what I heard, babies can be born with cancer - which is when cells keep dividing and then grow into tumors. So what happens to the infant while they are in the mother womb, what happens to the stem cells in the umbilical cord? could the cells be still used to benefit the individual?
ainley-Alexander wrote:
wyton-Johnathan wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning
According to this wikipedia article, in 2004 there has been an attempt at cloning embryo's. What do you take on this, and do you think that it was ever really done or was the doctor lying?
Isn't using a site like wikipedia not exactly trustworthy? Especially on a topic on this where there is a high potential for people to add false information due to conspiracy theories.
Wikipedia can be an excellent resource, especially because it is usually well cited. You can always look at the citation, and then try to find the original papers to confirm the claims. If there is no citation you should definitely be skeptical!
wikipedia can easily be changed, so it may not be the most reliable source to get information from.
ainley-Jarrett
Nov 27, 2012 at 11:18 AM