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I am one of those that think that we should be going the stem cell research route so whenever I see an article on the subject, I make note of it..
This one, from the Washington Times looks at the stem cell researchers quest to go beyond using embryos because of all of the opposition from certain groups who oppose it moral grounds.
But critics of embryonic stem-cell research, including President Bush, say destroying or tampering with a human embryo is immoral.
"We recoil at the idea of growing human beings for spare body parts or creating life for our own convenience," Mr. Bush has said.
The President fails to remember that science is not growing human beings for the research, but are using cells which would be discarded ( thrown away ) anyway.
Some stem-cell researchers and others who closely observe the field think scientists will find viable alternatives to embryonic stem cells that are not morally objectionable.
"I believe we could get the equivalent of embryonic stem cells through technological solutions that do not require the creation and destruction of embryos," said Dr. William B. Hurlbut, a consulting professor at Stanford University's Neuroscience Institute.
"An alternative is going to happen," said Dr. Markus Grompe, head of the Stem Cell Research Center at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. He says he uses "mouse embryo stem cells all the time" in his lab work but never human embryonic stem cells because of moral concerns.
B.D. Colen, spokesman for the Harvard Stem Cell Research Institute, is disturbed by the attention being given to those with moral concerns about embryonic stem cells.
"When did we start basing science policy in this country on what are fundamentally religious beliefs?" he asked.
When indeed!
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