2008 Woodie Awards
New, Moral Approach to Stem Cell Research
Andrew Sparks '09
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Commentary
There is a dangerous tendency among many pro-choice advocates to push for embryonic stem cell research in order to safe-guard abortion rights. The morally objectionable aspect of embryonic stem cell research is the fact that it requires the destruction of a human embryo in order for its stem cells to be gathered. The destruction of a human embryo is the same reason that abortion at any stage of pregnancy is unacceptable. Therefore, if the pro-life advocates successfully argued against embryonic stem cell research, they would effectively win the moral debate surrounding abortion too. For this reason the intolerant and fearful mainstream media and their supporters must continue to advocate for embryonic stem cell research for purely ideological reasons-they completely lack the scientific and moral backing for their position in light of this recent development in adult stem cell research.
It is about time the media and scientific community set aside politics and social agendas so that the objectively more beneficial approach can be pursued. This issue is just one of many where their silence speaks louder than words.
It is about time the media and scientific community set aside politics and social agendas so that the objectively more beneficial approach can be pursued. This issue is just one of many where their silence speaks louder than words.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 10
John
posted 3/14/08 @ 9:05 AM EST
These so-called iPS cells "induced pluripotent cells" are proxies for human embryonic stem cells. First of all they differ dramatically in their gene expression patterns. (Continued…)
don margolis
don margolis
posted 3/14/08 @ 1:56 PM EST
To Mr. Sparks:
I am a Jewish man who started a stem cell company five years ago with the sole purpose of saving the lives of dying heart patients with adult stem cells (ASC). (Continued…)
sylvester_katt
posted 3/14/08 @ 3:32 PM EST
Not only ideology but also economics -- if diseases are automatically eliminated with any type of cellular endeavor, then the lousy big pharmaceutical corps lose a helluva lot of money. (Continued…)
Ivor Hughes
posted 3/15/08 @ 2:21 AM EST
Who,s body is it? Who owns the sundry bits that are lying around in jars of formaldehyde .. 50 year old skin or mucous membrane is not as it was in vibrant youth . (Continued…)
eduardo
posted 3/15/08 @ 5:35 PM EST
Most people are ignorant of stem cell research. The alarmists have scared the public in believing that all stem cells somehow come from aborted human embryoes. (Continued…)
John
posted 3/15/08 @ 9:04 PM EST
This is bad news for the pro-deathers. But don't worry. Since they are dancing with the devil, he will provide them a "plausible" argument to continue using babies' cells. (Continued…)
Christian
posted 3/16/08 @ 2:40 PM EST
I am the author of Miracle Stem Cell Heart Repair and the Wilde Stem Cell Research letter heralding the proven benefits of ASC research. Don Margolis an undisputed leader in adult cell research has pointed out some amazing facts. (Continued…)
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