So let's talk about HEK-293 then. That's obviously the problem but what exactly is the problem? Where they came from, what they are, or how they are used? Then we can go from there.
1) Where they came from: HEK 293 cells were generated in 1973 by
transfection of cultures of normal human embryonic kidney cells with sheared
adenovirus 5
DNA in Alex van der Eb's laboratory in
Leiden, the Netherlands. The cells were obtained from a single, apparently healthy, legally aborted fetus under Dutch law; the identity of the parent and the reason for the abortion are unknown.
2) What they are:
Human embryonic kidney 293 cells, also often referred to as
HEK 293,
HEK-293,
293 cells, or less precisely as
HEK cells, are a specific
cell line originally derived from human
embryonic kidney cells grown in
tissue culture. HEK 293 cells have been widely used in
cell biology research for many years, because of their reliable growth and propensity for
transfection. They are also used by the
biotechnology industry to produce therapeutic proteins and
viruses for
gene therapy.
3) How they are used (in this case): [Senomyx] appears to be engineering HEK cells to function like the taste-receptor cells we have in our mouth. This way, Senomyx can test millions of substances to see if they work as different types of taste enhancers without subjecting human volunteers to endless taste tests.
EDIT: Simply put I think it's probably the "ew" factor that accompanies dead babies so this is likely just another abortion thread. That being said... the "ew" factor has also been applied to people donating their bodies to science forever... so are we going to say all those donations were bad too? Or only the fetal ones?
Have adults donating their bodies to science made the world a better place or worse? Medically speaking they have probably saved countless lives or made them better... but in other ways, maybe weapons testing, they have arguably helped end some too.
Or what about taking tendons and ligaments from cadavers? Corneas? They have helped a great many people and I'm sure HEK-293 has as well... but I keep coming to the conclusion it's the fetus' lack of consent that makes it different.
