Scientists create stable, self renewing Neurons!

[FlipMode]

Okay so why does this warrant a thread? Because these cells can be used to replace damaged cells, which is what causes things like, many brain related diseases and all sorts of stuff.
Then there are other potential uses, you could also use them to replace damaged cells in optics too, so in theory these cells could be used to reverse people being blind!

Now the real potential of this has not been looked into at all yet, but you could be looking at people living longer. You see as you get older your cells stop regenerating, and your neurons (brain cells) do not regenerate anyway, so if you now have regenerating / repairing stem cells... Who knows how many diseases this could potentially reverse? Parkinson's disease, I am sure a lot of you have heard of, is among the types that could be cured with this.

Now not everyone will agree because of the following,
1) The over population will only get more of an issue
2) This type of research is carried out on animals, so they can see if these cells will work for repairing the neurons of animals, before human testing.
And 3) It is hella expensive, only rich people will be able to afford treatment like this at first, for a while.

But yeah, thoughts and opinions?
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-sci ... -stem.html

[Panda-chan]

Holy crap, I knew they were working on stem cells to replace damaged neurons, but this is awesome. A lot of degenerative brain diseases won't become so much of an issue anymore. I know this won't be happening in a while, but hopefully one day they will be able to replace missing limbs and stuff

[Arani]

I have mixed feelings about this. I mean it's great and all and can really help people, but seriously... we were all made for a purpose, and that's not to live the longest or to grown back limbs or reverse sickness/mental illness or what ever this stuff really does. I believe that it just messes with nature.

But on the other hand, it could really help people! All depends on how you look at it I guess.

[Daenerys]

i have too say this is a weird topic........

[KopsTheTerminator]

This is really good and all and the scientists deserve all the medals they can get, but this is not going to help with the overpopulation problem.. At least it'll be expensive for a while. You don't know how much I hate to say this.. I feel so heartless >.< But like Arani said, it's messing up with the balance of nature and all that. People and animals get ill and die, it's just how nature works. :C

[xLilacVixenx]

@ Kopa23 & Arani

But still, it could help blindness. Imagine all the happy people there would be! And if all else fails, at least it could help stop the spread of disease.

[FlipMode]

[quote="Arani"]I have mixed feelings about this. I mean it's great and all and can really help people, but seriously... we were all made for a purpose, and that's not to live the longest or to grown back limbs or reverse sickness/mental illness or what ever this stuff really does. I believe that it just messes with nature.

But on the other hand, it could really help people! All depends on how you look at it I guess.[/quote]

Yeah I could see how someone could think that, I used too as well actually. But I came to the realisation that if forbid, one of my family or even myself contracted something which this could reverse, I would be the first to support things like this.

[quote="cheetahstar546"]i have too say this is a weird topic........[/quote]

I assume you do not actually understand it then, there is nothing weird about gene therapy research. Sure it is a bit strange for a Lion King board, but I figure there are enough people here who find this sort of stuff interesting, and it makes for good discussion in my opinion.

[quote="Kopa23"]But like Arani said, it's messing up with the balance of nature and all that. People and animals get ill and die, it's just how nature works. :C [/quote]

Again like I said in response to Arani. it is a fair enough point and I agree, but if it was me or someone I care about, then I would be the first to cast away morals like that. Like if I went blind, and this was an option for me, I would not hesitate to do it. It does not mean that we have to agree to and not do anything about it really.

LilacVixen has got the right idea, any negatives that this could bring, are outweighed in my opinion (unless of course it is scientifically flawed in some way and malfunctions)

[Arani]

[quote="FlipMode"][quote="Arani"]I have mixed feelings about this. I mean it's great and all and can really help people, but seriously... we were all made for a purpose, and that's not to live the longest or to grown back limbs or reverse sickness/mental illness or what ever this stuff really does. I believe that it just messes with nature.

But on the other hand, it could really help people! All depends on how you look at it I guess.[/quote]

Yeah I could see how someone could think that, I used too as well actually. But I came to the realisation that if forbid, one of my family or even myself contracted something which this could reverse, I would be the first to support things like this.

[quote="Kopa23"]But like Arani said, it's messing up with the balance of nature and all that. People and animals get ill and die, it's just how nature works. :C [/quote]

Again like I said in response to Arani. it is a fair enough point and I agree, but if it was me or someone I care about, then I would be the first to cast away morals like that. Like if I went blind, and this was an option for me, I would not hesitate to do it. It does not mean that we have to agree to and not do anything about it really.[/quote]

Well ya, I think a lot of us would. That's also nature, trying to help people who are close to you (or trying to help yourself, in which case another family member(s) is helping out.) But there's nothing like that actually around, is there? I see how it could benefit a lot of people. It could really be useful on Earth, but I see this as a double edged sword. (I think that's the expression...) One side likes this idea because it could really help out themselves and the ones they love. The other side thinks it's against human nature. So either way, there's gonna be conflict. I think if I think about this for a while longer I might start to support it, but as of this moment I don't completely think it's such a good idea.

[Nitro]

*tries to resist making a joke about fixing stupid people*

[FlipMode]

^Just let it out it is much easier XP
Although that just made me think, if you put these into someone who had nothing wrong with them in the first place, and was pretty smart generally... I wander if they would became like some sort of evil super genius 0.o