biologists criticize compromise plan for stem cells use

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2005/01/04/harvard_biologists_criticize_compromise_plan_for_stem_cells_use

biologists criticize compromise plan for stem cells use
By Gareth Cook, Globe Staff | January 4, 2005

Two prominent Harvard University biologists last week criticized a potential compromise for the use of human embryonic stem cells, saying the idea -- meant to overcome ethical objections -- is scientifically ''flawed."

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Melton said yesterday that the proposal would require experiments that could take years and that he doubted that it would yield a technique that would prove acceptable to critics of the current work. Melton is part of a team of scientists that has applied to Harvard University for permission to create human embryonic stem cells using cloning, with the hope of gaining new insights into juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's and other diseases.

The critical journal article is the first scientific response to Hurlbut's December proposal. It was coauthored by Dr. George Q. Daley of Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Charles Jennings, executive director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

Hurlbut said yesterday that the critical article focuses on one particular way of carrying out his idea -- the modification of a gene known as ''cdx2" -- but that there are probably many ways to carry out the proposal.

Hurlbut, who opposes abortion and teaches ethics at Stanford, said that a conference of scientists and scholars is being organized for April in Washington to discuss the idea. Hurlbut said that he hopes the proposal will lead to a way of opening up federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and to a broader base of public support for the work.

are starting to come out in support of fully-funded embryonic stem cell research - Orrin Hatch comes to mind. Unfortunately, Bush does not care, seeing as how all he seems to want to do is court the votes of the radical religious right in this country when it comes to issues like this.

Yet another thing the Democrats should be using to siphon away votes.

:-)