With the latest breakthrough in stem-cell research the question now is: "How will Dubya try an' f*#% this up?"
Remember, his first ever presidential veto was of legislation expanding stem cell research. With the 'morality' question out of play, will stem cell research move forward (with government funding) -- or will the president try and come up with a new excuse if legislation expanding stem-cell research comes up again?
The New York Times reports:
If stem cell researchers were oil prospectors, it could be said that they struck a gusher last week. But to realize the potential boundless riches they now must figure out how to build refineries, pipelines and gas stations.
Biologists were electrified on Tuesday, when scientists in Japan and Wisconsin reported that they could turn human skin cells into cells that behave like embryonic stem cells, able to grow indefinitely and to potentially turn into any type of tissue in the body.
The discovery, if it holds up, would decisively solve the raw material problem. It should provide an unlimited supply of stem cells without the ethically controversial embryo destruction and the restrictions on federal financing that have impeded work on human embryonic cells.
But scientists still face the challenge of taking that abundant raw material and turning it into useful medical treatments, like replacement tissue for damaged hearts and brains. And that challenge will be roughly as daunting for the new cells as it has been for the embryonic stem cells.
The possibilities are endless ... as long as we can keep the president out of the picture.
4 comments:
This is the kind of thing that drives me crazy.
The reason that Bush and people like him (read: wealthy) don't care about this kind of thing is because they are convinced that money can buy them anything and everything they want.
It's their default position to everything.
I agree, with the possible exception of Nancy Reagan. God knows I hated Ronnie, but Nancy did finally realize that no amount of money could save him. And that's why she supports stem cell research.
BAC
Won't someone please think of the epidermis-Americans?!?!?!?!
Do not get me started!
I have the acquaintance of another blogger and writer, Frank Cocozzelli, who writes extensively at Talk To Action on topics of faith as a Catholic.
Frank has many, many serious health challenges and fights extensively on behalf of stem-cell research without reservation.
He is an attorney and let's just say he knows his way around an argument very well. He is tireless in pursuit of benefits that he may not end up enjoying, but to serve others.
The fact that this too has become so polarized in the face of so-called pro-life Christians infuriates me.
If they try to stop this now, well I will really go off the rails.
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