Stemming the Tide of Controversy
A little bit of perspective can go a long way. If one believes the media, Dr. Catherine Verfaillie is a biased scientist whose research has significant flaws. Just as we suspected all along (they seem to say), the defects in her work “prove” that adult sources of stem cells are of no value, and we [...]
Centering on Bioethics (5)
Our February Podcast features an excerpt from a radio interview about the new Center for Bioethics at Cedarville University. We also examine three news stories with bioethical implications: a new, ethically neutral source for ‘embryonic’ stem cells, a controversial medical treatment for a handicapped child, and a happy ending for a Katrina baby that was [...]
An Advance in Stem Cell Research
Good news from the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. As lead researcher Dr. Anthony Atala has just reported in the journal Nature Biotechnology, human stem cells can be found in the amniotic fluid. Stem cells are the “starter” cells that may become various mature cells of the body. Such [...]
Stem Cells, Embryos, & Ethics (3)
Our January podcast is about embryonic stem cell research. We feature some interesting interviews with the public and an analysis of the ethics. We also look at a report on a conflict between Dr. Peter Singer and the animal rights movement, and we ask this month’s Tough Ethics Question. Special thanks to senior biology major [...]
The Year in Review
As we enter the new year, a look back at 2006 may give us perspective. Unfortunately, this has not been a particularly good year for the notion that human beings have inherent value. In fact, human personhood as a concept took a downward turn, replaced by a disturbing ‘end justifies the means’ mentality. A few [...]
A Black Market for Stem Cells? (2)
Our short interim podcast for mid-December, where we analyze two items from the news. The first is a disturbing report from the Ukraine, where it appears that live babies may have been murdered to obtain bone marrow stem cells. The second is a discussion of bioethicist Arthur Caplan, and his endorsement of the “morning-after” pill, [...]
Of Babies and Body Parts
This holiday season is all about new life. But in a cruel parody of the Christmas story, grisly news has emerged from the Ukraine. According to the BBC News Service, it appears that healthy newborn babies have been slaughtered as a source of stem cells. Video evidence from actual autopsies reveals dismembered infants, and raises [...]
A Papal Pronouncment on Ends and Means
A good result can never justify intrinsically unlawful means. That was the gist of the statement by Pope Benedict XVI on September 16, to participants in a symposium on stem cell research organized in Rome by the Pontifical Academy for Life. Some other noteworthy excerpts: May I also point out, in the face of the [...]
Of Bunnies and Men
Scientists are moving forward with plans to create hybrid human and rabbit embryos. This was the news three days ago from the U.K., where three teams of researchers were seeking to gain approval from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to create embryos that are 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 per cent rabbit. They [...]
A New Idea in Stem Cell Research?
It was too good to be true. A recent report from Reuters documents a new technique that produces early stem cells, but without destroying embryos. But the devil is in the details. As I discussed in my July 30th post, destroying embryonic humans for the supposed betterment of others violates long-held ethical standards against the [...]
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