Christopher Reeve dies at age 52. | Forums

[MT_UnclePhil]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6223386/

Im really going to miss him, he was childhood hero of mine (Superman movies), i hate to see such good people like him go. It hurts.

[Demon_Mustang]

Geez, this is horrible. I never really thought of the paralysis as especially life threatening. Of course it was a possibility, but this is still quite unexpected.

He is actually someone I always refer to when I defend stem cell research. Something along the lines of: "Superman cannot even walk, there's something wrong with that."

Well, I hope his family is taking this well, I don't know him personally, obviously, but he seemed like a good guy. I hope this doesn't get turned into some political thing where Kerry will use and exploit his death for political gain. Before you stereotype that I say this because I oppose his position, I support Kerry's position for stem-cell research, but still don't think his death should be used in the argument for it.

I would argue that stem-cell research (fetal stem-cell specifically, adult stem-cell research is supported by Bush, but I believe both are necessary) would help millions of people around the world. Many conditions can be cured/treated using advancement in this field, including paralysis, parkinson's disease, and the problem with finding compatible organs for transplantation.

Anyway, it was always known that the cures would not be found within our lifetimes, no matter what, but it's unfortunate that Reeves left us at such a young age, he will be missed.

[Hornet57]

He was one of the good ones may he Rest in Peace

My heart goes out to his family. Now they are suffering

[Furious_Gopher]

Rest his soul and I pray for his family.

He was a hero to me when I was a child as well.

[RedTerex]

Rest in Peace Mr Reeve.
Thank you for the excellent Superman films and for entertaining us with your unique persona in all the films you have been in.

You are a celebrity who will saddly be missed by millions.

regards

[NapalmFrog]

RIP... sure the movies sucked, but he was a good guy...

at least he didn't die by kryptonite

[Thoramir]

Demon,

They can get fetal stem cells from the umbilical cord when the baby is born, it's cheaper and it could turn the whole morality debate into a non-issue. Unfortunately, politics have come into the issue on both sides and gotten in the way of the science.

Rest in Peace Mr. Reeve, you'll always be the man I remember as superman.

[crtChunk72]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Thoramir:
They can get fetal stem cells from the umbilical cord when the baby is born, it's cheaper and it could the whole morality debate into a non-issue. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If this is true, then why are embryos even in the conversation?? Why are they part of the topic? I can only assume either I'm being mislead (entirely possible) or the embryos are a better source.

[Thoramir]

A good question. It's more about abortion politics and money than science. Abortion providers will actually pay scientists to use aborted fetuses because it bolsters their side of the issue politically. And some religious groups are opposed to government funding of even umbilical stem cell research. From what I understand there is no signifigant difference in quality of umbilical stem cells and fetal stem cells. However, you will obviously get more quantity from an aborted fetus and if someone is willing to pay scientists for their use then they will be more likely to use them.

Edit: Amazingly, the vast majority of practical application of stem cell reasearch at this point has been with adult stem cells. Despite the lower quality the benefit is that a person's own stem cells can be used to help them (no chance of being rejected by the body). The fetal cells are more flexible to work with, but since they come from someone who's already dead their use is limited beyond that of research. If Christopher Reeve had been able to get a stem cell treatment he would likely have got them from his own body, not someone else's.

Edit: Forgive my typing, I seem to be missing words and repeating them all over the place today.

[crtChunk72]

Well, then, in my opinion, embryonic stem cells should just be dropped from the equation, and "all problems" will be solved.

I can't imagine any religous group has a leg to stand on when they object to umbilical stem cell research, because that gets discarded after every birth (unless, I guess, someone wants to preserve it and take it home?) If it's medical waste or if it's life-saving, I don't see why religious groups would bark.

But, with fetuses (?) and embryos, that's an electrically charged issue... if there is no need for it, then it shouldn't even be considered. Case closed...

Obviously that's not working, but...