Visible embryo
While this post isn’t meant to be political in tone (surprise, surprise!), it was chiefly a political question that sent me searching for information yesterday. And then, as sometimes happens, I was caught up in the information itself.
Specifically, in terms of the embryonic stem cell research issue, I wondered which stage of growth the embryos have reached when they are used. And I wondered what one looked like. It’s been a long time since I’ve looked up information regarding a developing fetus. When I was carrying the lad, there was no world wide web to satisfy my curiosity. Anything I wanted to know had to be found the old fashioned way...in print publications. When I found the Visible Embryo site yesterday, I thought how much the world has changed in 18 years.
Each of the little embryos along the spiral cord are clickable at the site. A wealth of information is offered including the actual size of the embryo, a real image, and what developments the fetus is going through at that stage. What I wouldn’t have given for an easily accessible reference like this throughout my pregnancy!
Oh, my question about the stem cell research—the embryo is at the blastocyst stage and is somewhere between #3 and #4 on the spiral.
The Anti-Defamation League also took a dim view of Dobson’s rhetoric.
I don’t have any difficulties with the idea of stem cell research. I think it is a legitimate branch of science. But I am disturbed by the Dobsons of the country trying to muddy the debate with revisionist history rhetoric.
I doubt, though, that even if stem cell research wasn’t ever to be funded federally (instead by private foundations) whether it would be any more acceptable to those opposed to it. It’s not the funding, but the concept.
We are a strange country in what we choose to be moralistic about and what we discard as unworthy of consideration.
Um just who what your DR back then cause(tho I haven’t check the link yet) that spiral looks a lot like the one I got with A, and M way back when.Going to check out that link now lol.
Posted by AKA ME on 08/06/05 at 10:47 PM
Yeah, but it wasn’t online and interactive and google-able. And no, I didn’t get anything like that from my doctor. Just a bunch of info about what to eat, what to avoid, and basic info about being pregnant.
Hey that was pretty cool! I did go and check it out and, way more info than what we go way back when.(The chart is similar to the one I got then with a flip the flap and under it is had info on what was what at that stage)
Posted by AKA ME on 08/08/05 at 08:49 AM
Next entry: Learned fear?
Previous entry: Novak suspended
This is a fascinating site - I finally have a fairly good understanding of what a blastocyte is. I think we went from zygote to embryo back when I was in college biology.
I respect those who have reservations about federal funding of this research, though I think the promises this research offers (yes, without any guarantees) for the alleviation of suffering and enhancement of “life” outweighs the contervailing arguments. What I don’t like are the comments by those such as Rev. Dobson, who compared this to Nazi experiments on humans in concentration camps. That kind of rhetoric takes us nowhere. I’m glad these types of decisions are made with adequate consideration of all sides, and I think that has happened in this case and it’s time to go forward. For many people, time can represent the difference between life and death.