Stem Cell Research Debate Heats Back Up

by babblingdweeb | June 8, 2007 at 07:00 am

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If you have not yet heard, there was an amazing breakthrough in stem cell research not though to have been possible for another 10 years [NP discusses: Turning Skin into Stem Cells].
This news comes at an interesting time in US politics with November presidential primary elections and the debates heating up in national news. Everyone wants to talk about issues -the only issue most want to discuss is Iraq; however, stem cell research is not far behind.

Yesterday the US House passed a bill easing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research. This bill has already passed through the US Senate and is on the way to the President's desk -where it is expected to get vetoed.

"I am disappointed the leadership of Congress recycled an old bill that would simply overturn our country's carefully balanced policy on embryonic stem-cell research," Mr. Bush said. "If this bill were to become law, American taxpayers would for the first time in our history be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos." [subscription required]

So what is the interesting connection between the two stories? Well the new findings first mentioned throw a wrench into the logic behind federal funding. The new stem cell break through is beyond embryonic stem cell research and starts a new chapter in stem cell research. This bring cause for new debate on the ethical issues with embryonic research.

Critics of the legislation seized on the research findings, saying they prove experimentation on embryos isn't necessary.[subscription required]

On a lighter, but related note, a new TV commercial (see attached) featuring a parody on Bush's position against embryonic stem cell research was created by Jerry Zucker (know for directing: My Best Friend's Wedding, Naked Gun, Airplane) and should give even the Bush supporters a laugh.