However, there's research underway that might lead to the medical benefits of embryonic stem cell treatments without the moral downside. If you or someone you know is pregnant, you/she might consider donating umbilical cord blood after delivery to support this research. Only a limited number of medical facilities are equipped to collect it, but it's worth a look. Follow this link for more information.
All about the conditioning.
20 hours ago
Actually, any provider can collect the sample - I've done it myself. WHat is missing is a place to send it! parents are being told that they can save their baby's cells for fees ranging in the thousands of dollars, but there is not a clearinghouse (like the red cross) to send cells for charitable or research use. If there were, I can almost guarantee that more than 50% of moms would donate their babies' umbilical stem cells. (They have to be collected under sterile conditions from the cord or placenta - usually using a needel which can be a hazard for the person doing the collection but not too big of a deal).
20 years ago we used to collect amniotic fluid under sterile conditions during cesareans. It was used as a source of lung surfactant, a miracle drug that has helped many preemies to be able to live healthy lives without chronic lung damage. Now they can manufacture surfactant without having to collect the body fluids of another baby, which is progress.