Science Breakthrough

Ideology Trumps Science

As I reported last week, two studies show that human skin cells can be “reprogrammed” into embryonic-like stem cells, without creating embryos or cloning embryos to obtain the stem cells. We have President Bush to thank in large part for this new discovery. Had he not held the line on taxpayer-funded research on embryos there is a good chance this breakthrough would not have occurred. However, despite this new evidence, several members of Congress have made clear they will push forward with their legislation requiring taxpayers to fund research that destroys human embryos. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) reportedly stated that despite the groundbreaking announcement last week, he still hopes that embryonic stem cells may be found to be more powerful. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) said he will continue to push legislation to fund embryo-destructive research, as did Rep. Dianne DeGette (D-Colo.). Rather than accept the fact that these new reprogramming studies show tremendous promise for basic stem cell research, politicians plan to push their embryo-killing legislation even though they know they don’t have the votes to override the President’s veto. If Congress wants to seriously advance the ethical research embodied in these new studies, and increase stem cell research for patients being treated now with adult stem cells, then they should pass the Patients First Act. It would be a shame if ideology trumped the latest science.

Stem Cells, the Right Way [Michael Gerson, Washington Post]
Science breakthrough [Charleston Gazette]

~ by r7fel on November 27, 2007.