(Miami Herald, August 28, 2006)—The announcement last week that researchers have created embryonic stem-cells without destroying human embryos should have been praised as a scientific breakthrough. But not everyone was pleased with the news. President Bush, who recently vetoed a bill to fund stem-cell research, said his ethical concerns about the procedures have not been assuaged. The president says he would be comfortable when embryos aren’t used at all.
Nevertheless, the development is a commendable advancement that puts scientists closer to finding a cure to diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The new method takes an embryonic stem cell at an early stage of development and removes a single cell. This leaves a complete embryo able to fully develop. The single extracted cell is then coaxed into generating an embryonic stem-cell line.
The important new point is this: The embryonic stem-cells are created, not destroyed. The process is not nearly as efficient as other methods, but scientists are responding to the dead-end caused by President Bush’s veto last month. The veto prevents the use of federal dollars, which many universities depend on, for this promising line of research.
Surveys show that despite the moral concerns, most Americans support stem-cell research. The new developments should ease the ethical concerns. The technique is laudable not only for its potential to cure diseases, but also for the possibility that it has created an avenue of compromise. Ideally, scientists focus their work exclusively on their research. In this case, that work has created the potential for a political compromise.
For this, there should be gratitude and eventually, it can be hoped, more financial support.
Miami Herald