Stem Cell Research, the cure all?

Stem cell research has been a controversial topic for years. The research is controversial because, with our recent technology, starting a stem cell line requires the destruction of a human embryo. They compare this research to abortion, which is completely absurd. The reason why I am so frustrating with this topic is because it has affected my family. Stem cell research saves many lives. My little cousin who was five and diagnosed with leukemia had no matches for his bone marrow transplant. The only way he was able to get a match was to create a cell that was an exact match for him and then implant it into his mother. Because of stem cell research he was able to live and finally received a match! So when I read things like it is destroying human lives and its like killing a baby it really frustrates me! How can someone take away research that can save a 5 year olds life. How can People choose a cell, which is not even breathing, over a five year old child, or anyone of that matter? It amazes me how ignorant a person can be! Stem cells offer the chance to study the growth and differentiation of individual cells into tissues. If we were to understand these processes it could provide us with information to prevent o birth defects, Genetic abnormalities, and other disease states. If normal development were better understood, it might be possible to prevent or correct some of these conditions. Stem Cells could be used to produce large amounts of one cell type to test new drugs for
Effectiveness and chemicals for toxicity. Stem cells might be transplanted into the
Body to treat disease (diabetes, Parkinson’s disease) or injury (e.g., spinal cord). If stem cell research can solve all of these problems why is there still controversy?

oldest women to ever live!

I just felt that this was an interesting article. Being a freshman in college I never really think about getting older. But when in fact I do get older, do I really want to live past 100. I feel that once you get passed a certain point you just begin to deteriorate so why would anyone want to put themselves through living like a vegetable. I came across an article titled “the oldest women in the world”, and it just got me thinking. An Indian woman, living at age 115! The women’s name is Edna Parker. She just celebrated her 115 birthday on Sunday. How crazy is that? But the good news about her being the oldest women to ever live is that they can solve the mysteries of longevity. The real question is, should it be solved? A widow since her husband, Earl, died in 1938 of a heart attack, Parker lived alone in their farmhouse until age 100, when she moved into her son Clifford's home. She cheated death a few months later. I could never live like that alone and lonely. I mean watching your relatives die its just so depressing! The women lived alone in her farmhouse until she was one hundred. I would honestly rather live a wonderful fulfilling live till I am 80 rather than force myself to live and as I loose my memory, my mind and family!