I am curious as to the general reaction of the non-scientific population to stem cell research and associated regenerative medicine. Do they see it as a possibility in the near future or distant future?
Hello Henry,
my experience is that the general population don't see differences between cell lines and normally don't ask many. So for example:
"What are you working?"
"I am working with stem cells."
"Interesting, nice."
And then the conversation stops ;-)
Generally people ask how many days stem cell research will take to get fully functional i.e. how many years it will take to 100 % guaranteed treatment using stem cell and treatment for all diseases
Vinicius you are right. I was part of a lecture where a well known stem cell researcher told medic audience about stem cell research. Everybody like the lecture I think and then the first question was: "When can we use it in clinical procedures?" Answer was: "I don't think in the next 10 years." And then no question more came...
So as you write, the people believe in media and when they hear that this is not the truth, the interest stop...
The worst reactions are when you say that you work with stem cells, and they say:
"oh, nice, so you work with plants"
Try mentioning the word transgenic in the same sentence and everybody loses their minds :)
People reaction is so funny when i say that i am working on nuclear envelope proteins from stem cells, people hear "nuclear" like a nuclear central, they are all afraid about that... and they think that i am working on that in my lab ;) and stem cells, they never understand...
The non-cientific population often asks if it is true that "everything" that has not cure can have a solution with stem cells or some people with an ill relative ask if he or she could be treated with stem cells.
People that I spoke to think it as an already solved problem.
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