tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000891.post1780905812515511556..comments2024-02-21T19:56:57.057-08:00Comments on California Stem Cell Report: An Egg Shortage: Is More Cash the Answer?David Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00077329461962729362noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000891.post-80813954940096500772009-11-19T02:52:22.982-08:002009-11-19T02:52:22.982-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000891.post-71017923905142450422008-03-21T10:03:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:03:00.000-07:00Re the photo of Eggan, the answer is that it did n...Re the photo of Eggan, the answer is that it did not come from match.com.David Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00077329461962729362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000891.post-75900454567583152902008-03-21T02:39:00.000-07:002008-03-21T02:39:00.000-07:00Is that Kevin Eggans picture from his match.com pr...Is that Kevin Eggans picture from his match.com profile?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000891.post-41465215340044389902008-03-20T10:03:00.000-07:002008-03-20T10:03:00.000-07:00Thanks for the report on the meeting of the Standa...Thanks for the report on the meeting of the Standards Working Group. Some clarification is needed regarding the role of eggs in stem cell research. <BR/><BR/>The great majority of the world's human embryonic stem cell research uses cells derived from embryos that were initially created for assisted reproduction treatments (IVF) but then not needed. No fresh eggs are needed specifically for the research, as they are supplied by the prospective biological mother for reproductive purposes.<BR/><BR/>Some believe that stem cell lines could be derived from embryos that are specifically created for research through cloning, or somatic cell nuclear transfer. This process requires fresh human eggs. Only perhaps a dozen labs worldwide are trying, and only three or four CIRM grants have been awarded for this purpose (to my knowledge). <BR/><BR/>This line of work raises concerns beyond the moral status of the embryo. The extraction of eggs poses significant health risks for the women who would provide them, which is the concern behind the prohibition on payments for the eggs. And the development of cloning for research would greatly increase the likelihood of cloning for reproduction.<BR/><BR/>After almost a decade of work, stem cells have not been derived from human clonal embryos. In light of the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), cloning-based stem cell research is <I>not</I> enjoying a resurgence. In fact, one of the world's leading cloning researchers - Ian Wilmut - abandoned such work after the development of iPS. <BR/><BR/>For more information, see CGS's website on <A HREF="http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?list=type&type=83" REL="nofollow">research cloning</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com