
 |
|
June 19, 2013
June 12, 2013
Stephanie Hanes: Little girls or little women? The Disney princess effect
Fred Weir: In tweak to US, Russia would 'consider' asylum for Snowden
June 10, 2013
The Kosher Gourmet by Anjali Prasertong: A tart filling so good it might not make it to the crust
June 5, 2013
John Rosemond: Mom, Dad: Talk More and listen less
Kristen Chick: Egypt court sentences 43 pro-democracy workers to prison
June 3, 2013
Molly Hennessy-Fiske: Military judge to consider letting Fort Hood shooting defendant represent himself
May 29, 2013
Andrew Connelly and Helene Bienvenu: The Little Synagogue that Refused to Die
May 24, 2013
Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: When I didn't so 'humbly disagree'
May 22, 2013
John Thorne:
They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman
May 20, 2013
Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?
Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star
The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting
|
| |
Jewish World Review
June 8, 2007
/ 22 Sivan, 5767
Good news on stem cells
By
Linda Chavez
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Finally, some good news: A front-page story that not only brings hope on an important and contentious issue, but may even find Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, religious believers and non-believers cheering with equal enthusiasm. Scientists in Japan and the United States have now found a way to reprogram skin cells back to an embryonic state.
Since 1998, when scientists first discovered how to generate human embryonic stem cells from embryos discarded by fertility clinics, stem cell research has become almost as controversial an issue as abortion. But if this new technique can be applied to humans so far, it has been performed only on mice the debate on stem cell research is over. If skin cells can be used to create stem cells, who will argue that it is necessary to destroy embryos for the same purpose?
This news comes at an interesting time, just as a bill to provide federal funds for embryonic stem cell research makes its way to the president for his signature. President Bush has made it clear that he will veto the bill, as he did similar legislation a few years ago. But not all Republicans support the president's position. Among Republican presidential contenders, Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani support embryonic stem cell research. Those who support the research cite the benefits it could bring to millions of people suffering from degenerative and other diseases.
In the 2006 congressional races, Democrats were able to use some Republicans' opposition to embryonic stem cell research to defeat them, most notably Sen. Jim Talent in Missouri. The tactics the Democrats used especially ads by actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease were effective, but irresponsible. The Democrats acted as if opposition to destroying embryos was tantamount to denying life-saving therapy to the sick and dying. But even the most ardent supporters of embryonic stem cell research in the scientific community acknowledge we are a long way from turning any such research into practical therapies for Parkinson's, diabetes or any other disease.
Ironically, it was George W. Bush who provided the first federal funding of such research, when he approved federal money being used for research on existing stem cell lines in August 2001. Although researchers had been working in this area since 1998, President Clinton never saw fit to do the same thing in his two remaining years in office. But President Bush has never received any credit on this from the supporters of stem cell research, only recriminations from opponents of such research, who thought his actions violated the sanctity of human life.
There is no way to know at this point whether the new research will bear fruit. One of the problems is that the mice used in Dr. Shinya Yamanaka's research had to be interbred not exactly an option for humans. In addition, two of the four genes Dr. Yamanaka used to reprogram skin cells into an embryonic state also seem to trigger cancer. One-in-five of the mice used in experiments died of cancer. Scientists are hopeful they can discover ways to mitigate these effects, but it's impossible to know if they will succeed.
Nonetheless, this new research suggests as opponents of experimental use of embryonic stem cells have claimed all along that there are viable alternatives to destroying human embryos in order to save lives. For those who do not believe that human life begins at conception, the debate over embryos has never made sense. But for observant Catholics and many others who share Catholics' belief that the moment a human egg is fertilized, a unique, fully human life is present this debate touches on deeply held religious and moral values.
Both sides believe they are on the side of saving lives. It would be wonderful dare I suggest, Providential if science could help close the divide between them by finding a new way to conduct potentially life-saving research without destroying life in the process.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Linda Chavez is President of the Center for Equal Opportunity. Her latest book is "Betrayal: How Union Bosses Shake Down Their Members and Corrupt American Politics". (Click HERE to purchase. Sales help fund JWR.)
Linda Chavez Archives
© 2006, Creators Syndicate
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Christine Flowers
Peter Funt
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
A. Barton Hinkle
Jeff Jacoby
Paul Johnson
John Kass
Jack Kelly
Ch. Krauthammer
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Clarence Page
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Michael Reagan
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Greg Schwem
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Lenore Skenazy
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
Cathy Young
Mort Zuckerman

Eric Allie
Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Nate Beeler
Lisa Benson
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
John Branch
Daryl Cagle
Patrick Chappatte
John Cole
Paul Combs
J. D. Crowe
John Darkow
Bill Day
John Deering
Sean Delonas
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Randall Enos
Mallard Fillmore
David Fitzsimmons
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Walt Handelsman
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
David Horsey
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Mike Keefe
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Chan Lowe
Jimmy Margulies
Gary McCoy
Rick McKee
Jack Ohman
Jeff Parker
Milt Priggee
Michael Ramirez
Rob Rogers
Steve Sack
Bill Schorr
Drew Sheneman
Kevin Siers
David Ray Skinner
Jeff Stahler
Scott Stantis
Danna Summers
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters
Christopher Weyant
Larry Wright
Dan Wasserman
Adam Zyglis

Tech Q&A
Mr. Know-It-All
Ask Doctor K
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|