Stem-Cells: Beyond The Embryo Research

    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.

Entire Article

When indeed!

 

Technorati tags: Stem-Cell, Research

 

Tucson Highway Project To Be A 39 Month Nightmare

   Right about now I'm pretty glad that I am not back in the Tucson desert what with the new I-10 road construction that is expected to take a little bit more than three years.

    The $122 million  will widen I-10 to four lanes for a fair stretch of interstate and will curb the highways use down to only two working lanes.

Tucson Citizen

02.10.2007

The project was originally set for three phases over 10 years, creating a potential decade-long migraine for motorists.
Instead, ADOT engineers opted for a single-phase, 39-month project that will be painful but for a much shorter period, said Teresa Wellborne, ADOT spokeswoman for the project.
To help motorists, ADOT plans a new, high-tech operations center where traffic conditions will be electronically monitored.
This will allow operators to activate message boards along the freeway to advise motorists of conditions, Wellborne said.
Also, ADOT and the Tucson Transportation Department are working to better synchronize downtown traffic signals during the project.
One critical element of the widening will be the demolition of bridges over downtown streets.
Plans are to demolish and build new bridges on one side of the freeway, routing all traffic to the other side during that work. When the first side is completed, traffic will be routed to the new half, and demolition and construction will be done on the other side, Wellborne said.
"The interstate will be built one side at a time," Wellborne said.

   My friends out in Tucson certainly have my sympathy.

 

Technorati tags: Tucson, Arizona, Highway