The question of Stem Cells and gene therapy

In the not too far past there used to be a common theme in many movies and television shows describing the future as free of all disease and afflictions to the body. The miracles of advanced science were credited with this breakthrough.

In many of those same films, books, and television programs the unforeseen fruits of these same breakthroughs lead to massive and sometimes apocalyptic levels of death from new or simple diseases.

These are the 2 heads of the argument over human stem cells and their research. Science fiction no longer the question that once was debated by a few philosophers and writers is now an involved industry with lobbyists and famous figureheads on both sides. And as the debate rages on, research continues in various parts of the globe.

Honestly I am torn. On the one hand I realize the potential to save lives like those afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease like Michael J. Fox. And on the other I understand the propensity of mankind to corrupt scientific findings like atomic energy creating nuclear weapons. Given these to thoughts it’s difficult to know what is actually best.

Add to this conundrum the fact that science still does not know what they are dealing with. In the early 1990’s there was world-wide clinical human trials using bone marrow stem cells on 1,000 patients. The study was ended when 3 patients in France had leukemia like conditions occur. But an 18 month study recently published in Molecular Therapy on 600 mice of gene transfer has shown on tumor growths or other affects. So it seems that the 3 in France were an abnormality. Or were they? We really don’t know.

But because of my own questions, and the nature of the science involved – for good and bad – I see nothing better than a blog to discuss the issue. What do you think? What have you heard or learned? How do we ensure only the best uses of stem cells, or has the genie left the bottle?