Scientists Able to Repair Sight!

Just started learning about Alkaline Phosphatase techniques for stem cell markings, and I've been having a great time in the lab.

Stem Cells FTW

Originally posted by inimalist
very strange...

do you know if there is a difference if the treatment is done earlier in life vs later?

that must be the most bizarre rehab period though, after that surgery, your brain wouldn't be able to visually process the edge of objects, let alone identify item categories like "chair"...

Imagine that you had surgery that allowed you to see into infrared and ultraviolet light and radio waves but your brain wasn't equipped to process that information. Every time you opened your eyes, all you'd see was a bright, fluctuating mess. Wouldn't that depress and confuse you?

Originally posted by Darth Jello
I think it has to do with how long you've been blind and how you've adapted.

well, yes, but the thing is, children have a much higher degree of plasticity than adults do. I was wondering if there was any evidence that there were less complications if the surgery was done in childhood vs later adulthood.

EDIT: for instance, brain injuries that would cause lifetime disabilities in adults are often only temporary in young kids. their plasticity allows the connections to be reformed.

Originally posted by Darth Jello
Imagine that you had surgery that allowed you to see into infrared and ultraviolet light and radio waves but your brain wasn't equipped to process that information. Every time you opened your eyes, all you'd see was a bright, fluctuating mess. Wouldn't that depress and confuse you?

...

I, uh, understand the concept actually...

I don't argee with that so no I don't think it is a good thing.Scientist always trys to play God and it is not right or a good thing to do.

or maybe God should stop trying to play scientist

That makes no sence?

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
I don't argee with that so no I don't think it is a good thing.Scientist always trys to play God and it is not right or a good thing to do.

Really?

I mean, really?

Words, can not describe in full, the rayge and confusion I am simultaneously experiencing right now.

I am just saying that God made scienctist not the other way around,

So you're not saying that it isn't a good thing or the right thing for scientists to develop ways to cure people's blindness?

No it is a good thing I just don't like it when they try to play God.

You have to pick one here. They're fixing people's vision, that's a God thing isn't it?

OK, how is giving someone vision playing God?

Because God gives Vision to us.anyway it is a good thing that they are helping people but with other stuff it is not so good.

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
Because God gives Vision to us.anyway it is a good thing that they are helping people but with other stuff it is not so good.

So where's this line between "playing God but it's okay" and "playing God but it's bad"?

Legs are a God thing, so crutches will lead to Satanism.
Hair is a God thing, so Rogaine will lead to baby eating.
Food is a God thing, so farming will lead to Hell swallowing the Earth.

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
That makes no sence?

sure it does, it is a cynical reference to religious institutions overstepping their own knowledge of the world and trying to censor what is otherwise perfectly valid and beneficial science.

I will clap when they cure Alzheimer

ya, because curing blindness is such a trivial accomplishment

I guess this if there is a cure for blindness, it shouldn't become a common treatment for blindness until some method, such as therapy or surgery is developed to treat the mental and neurological consequences of giving or restoring sight to the sightless.

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
Because God gives Vision to us.anyway it is a good thing that they are helping people but with other stuff it is not so good.

So are we playing God when:

1. Designing prosthetics for amputees?
2. We eventually find a cure for cancer?
3. Creating hearing aids?
4. Making simple medicinal products, such as cough syrup?

Originally posted by Parmaniac
I will clap when they cure Alzheimer

I definitely remind you if you forget to clap.