| Twins adopted as embryos: 'Living proof' stirs stem cell debate
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. When President Bush vetoed a bill June 20 that would have provided federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Mike and Nicole Bell of Traverse City, Mich., were among those Americans rejoicing. The Bells have two children, 17-month-old twins Michael and Paige, born via a relatively new method called embryo adoption. Michael and Paige once were so-called leftover embryos, stored frozen in a lab -- the same type of embryos many scientists want to use for research. They very well could still be there, if not for Mike and Nicole. "They were orphans in a different sense of the word," Nicole, 35, told Baptist Press. "Embryos are not just cells. They're little people. "We are opposed to embryonic stem cell research but we are in favor of other types of stem cell research -- adult stem cells, [umbilical] cord blood stem cells.
Ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube
About 97% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube. The remainder implant in the abdominal cavity, on the ovary, or within the cervix. Heterotopic pregnancies occur in one of these areas, while there is also a pregnancy in the uterus. Approximately 100,000 ectopic pregnancies occur each year. Approximately 1 in 66 women will experience this type of pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a very serious condition. When the pregnancy grows in these abnormal areas, it can easily cause massive, rapid bleeding, and even death.
Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube (so-called tubal pregnancies), but implantation can also occur in the cervix, ovaries, and abdomen. The fetus produces enzymes that allow it to implant in varied types of tissues, and thus an embryo implanted elsewhere than the uterus can cause great tissue damage in its efforts to reach a sufficient supply of blood.
guardian of the galaxy
Suppose yourself a National Basketball Association lottery pick. Suppose further that you are blessed with a big body but are somewhat limited (I�m being kind here!) in skills. Say your rookie year free throw percentage was a reeking 59%. That ain�t just malodorous � that kind of stench from the line should trigger an OSHA investigation. The HAZMAT guys should�ve been sent in to clean up the site! Say further that you have no shot; you must be within 5 feet of the hoop to score. In plain talk: you can�t hit the side of a barn with a Gatling gun even if you are inside the barn. If you were being paid kajillions of dollars, would you dedicate a few minutes each summer to honing those skills and your craft? If that question seems rhetorical, consider the career statistics of a certain overpaid NBA athlete.
|
