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Originally Posted by queequeger
I don't know if this really "equalizes the debate," either. It's still beyond stupid to argue that, "God hates abortion, so instead of using this already aborted fetus to do research, let's throw it away. Because throwing it away is less of an abomination than studying it."
Do people think women have abortions so they can help science?? The fact is, even if we can get skin cells to do the same thing, there's absolutely no harm in studying the fetuses as well. It should also be pointed out that just because you can get a skin cell to mimic a fetal stem cell, it does not mean that it will behave in exactly the same way in every situation.
Animal organs can be studied to learn more about our organs, but when it comes right down to it, they're only so close. This is like the church saying posthumous dissection is evil, people should study animals.
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IIRC the source of fetal stem cells is not abortion, but unused zygotes left over from in-vitro fertilization programs.
You're right, though, that it is not yet certain that these skin stem cells will behave exactly like fetal stem cells. More research is needed.