Stem Cell Showdown
In a dramatic ruling, a federal district court judge has blocked the Obama administration’s new guidelines on embryonic stem cell research. Judge Royce C. Lamberth issued a temporary injunction on August 23rd to prevent federal funding of embryo-destructive research, this in spite of an executive order by the president to permit this. Judge Lamberth’s decision [...]
The British Cord Blood Dilemma
It’s ironic that the United Kingdom, one of the countries on the forefront of new biomedical research, (including embryo-destructive stem cell research), has no organized system for utilizing one of the best sources of stems cells: umbilical cord blood. Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, the wife of Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, found this out in [...]
On Oprah, No Less!
Sometimes the truth has a way of getting out. On March 29th, Michael J. Fox and Dr. Oz were guests on the Oprah show. The topic, of course, was stem cell research. The medical expert used a real preserved brain to show the area of the midbrain affected by Parkinson’s Disease, called the substantia nigra. [...]
The Elephant in the Room
On March 9th, President Obama followed through on a campaign promise and issued an executive order. His signature overturned the ban, established in August, 2001, on government funding of embryo-destructive research. His speech at the signing ceremony was remarkable, not for his action (which was expected), but for what he didn’t say. Here’s an excerpt: [...]
To Clone or Not to Clone? (13)
Today’s podcast is all about the subject of human cloning. The discussion is based on Dr. Sullivan’s recent public testimony before an Ohio Senate subcommittee on a bill to ban human cloning. We examine the context of cloning, both as a possible reproductive technology and (more likely) as a source of human embryos for stem [...]
Maybe Not So Good News?
In a recent post, entitled “Good News for Everyone,” we rejoiced over the news that two independent teams of researchers had converted ordinary human skin cells into embryonic stem cells. They started out with human fibroblasts, then inserted four genes that caused the cells to become pluripotent, that is, to have the ability to grow [...]
Good News for Everyone
Recently, with Christmas still over a month away, two independent teams of scientists gave the world an early holiday present. And this is a gift that may keep on giving for years to come. I’m talking, of course, about the announcment on November 20th that researchers had converted ordinary human skin cells into embryonic stem [...]
Gambling on Stem Cell Research
In a surprising development for the Garden State, a recent poll shows that nearly half of New Jersey citizens want to leave. Economic factors such as high property taxes, high health-insurance premiums, and expensive housing are making emigration more and more appealing, especially to the middle-class. The solution? Governor John Corzine wants to borrow half [...]
Hype or Real Hope in Biotechnology?
Ethicist Nigel Cameron has called this the “Biotech Century,” which is certainly apt, given all of the excitement over new ways to intervene into biology and medicine, even tantalizing research to change our genetic makeup and to lengthen human life. But here’s a sober bit of perspective. “Biotech” has become such a holy grail, attracting [...]
A Pearl on Stem Cell Research
Since the bioethics news has been so serious lately, I thought we should take a break this week, and just enjoy my favorite (slightly warped) comic strip, Pearls Before Swine. This one is about stem cell research (just left click to enlarge). I promise to return to my usual commentary next week! Pearls Before Swine [...]
CedarEthics
On Bioethics and the Defense of Human Life
CedarEthics is proudly powered by WordPress.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
Off-center theme courtesy of Real Estate Online Marketing Coach