Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Have you seen this?

Free Stock Photos - Mouse looking up
© Photographer: Olgapshenichnaya | Agency: Dreamstime.com
I bet some of you have, since it is old news. But I am still struck by this news and had to add my two cents. For those of you who object to stem cell research, the controversy has forced scientist to study adult stem cells with some amazing results. No fetus was harmed, yea!

Take an old mouse, maybe he is named Mickey, inject a younger mouses stem cell and Mickey lives twice as long and starts to rejuvenate his muscles. Now he sounds a lot like a cartoon character. Okay, jokes aside, some research scientist at Penn State did this. Curious, go here to learn more.

What does this mean? The Spanish armada is on its way looking for the fountain of youth? No, they can get the latest on the web just like we can.

It means that once all the studies are done, say in ten years, doctors may have a new weapon against disease. The cure for cancer, MS, arthritis, and more may be a heartbeat away.

Will we live longer? The mice in the study lived twice as long. Do you want to be 200? How about 1,000?

A couple years ago I saw a program on The History Channel that talked about mini robots that looked a whole lot like alien UFO's which they said would be injected in people to fight disease expanding our life time to 1,000 years. The program estimated that this technology would be available by 2150. Well, folks, I will be 99 years old in 2150 and I just had visions of me, old and wobbling around with a cane for 1,000 years. No thank you. But with the stem cells, from living, younger, donors, our bodies would regenerate. We would grow more youthful. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure no one would turn into a baby.

Where is God in all of this? I ask, because many of you will. God, in His mercy, created stem cells. It could be that our scientist are like those who built the Tower of Babel. If so, God will interfere. We don't need to worry. We just need to trust Him. If not, then I see no harm in this new technology. All my aches and pains cry out for relief. I can serve God better with a healthy body than an old one.

What are your thoughts?
Nancy

11 comments:

Nicole said...

Technology both amazes and terrifies me... will be very interesting to see where it goes! I spotted this pic http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1066947 and instantly thought of Missy & her prince :)

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Nicole
LOL, you made me laugh. I'm glad my story made a lasting impression.

I used to be scared of technology. Now, I just shake my head and wonder what else we will learn. I think it's the age thing. You know, getting old.

Thanks for coming by. You made my day.
Nancy

Tonja said...

Other scientific pursuits terrify me more to be honest. I heard something about spider-web enhanced goat milk. What?!

I have nerve damage in my foot and leg. Multiple doctors have scratched their heads and wished me luck. I'm all for medical research that's intended to help people, but not the kind that's intended to be used as weapons or that's completely nightmarish like spider-goats.

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Tonja
I hadn't heard that one. Spider-goats, scary.

I'm for medical breakthroughs that are positive to all. The scariest thing I heard was about the two scientist who created a killer strand of the bird flue. What were they thinking?
Nancy

Kay L. Davies said...

I've recently turned 65 and everything in my body hurts. It has for years.
I've had a lot of parts removed and some replaced with artificial copies. I'd be a fool to reject scientific research so I could wear wooden false teeth.
I can't imagine crossing goats with spiders, though.
But if a shot of stem cells, taken safely from a young person with that person's consent, would make me live without pain for 20 or 30 years, I'd happily be 90 or 95.
K

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Kay
I agree with you 100%. Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment.
Nancy

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Well, God did originally create us to live for a very long time. The oldest man in the Bible, Methuselah, lived to be nine hundred years old.

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Alex
God point. I didn't even think of those early men when I wrote this post. Thanks for coming by.
Nancy

Denise Covey said...

Hey Nancy. Controversial topic. I have strong feelings on this. God made the scientists too and for all those people who've been born with a disease/disability or developed one, I say don't impede stem cell research.

Denise

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Denise
I understand your feelings. I'm glad that science has discovered so many benefits that help mankind.
Nancy

Kaye Draper said...

Fun post. I am impressed that you addressed the "God" question, most people would shy away from the controversy. In these arguments, my first thought is always this: If God's plan includes people being inflicted with disease and disability, why isn't it also considered God's plan for us to discover cures? If God made disease, then it follows that he also made stems cells, scientists, doctors, etc. :) I am all for no one suffering!