The latest episode of BioTalk is with Dr. David Prentice of the Lozier Insititute on the world’s first GMO baby born this summer using the “3-parent IVF” method called “maternal spindle transfer”. If not for the Aderholt amendment to the 2015 omnibus spending bill, which prohibits the Food and Drug Administration from entertaining any submission that proposes “research in which … Read More
BioTalk19: Genetic Testing – Consumer/Patient Be Aware
I’m back with Rebecca in the latest episode of BioTalk. This time we’re talking about genetic testing and what could happen to your DNA after it leaves your body. Or Audio only: Generally speaking, genetic testing is ethically neutral. In fact, in some cases it may be medically, and therefore ethically, necessary. But, whether you’re getting tested for legitimate health … Read More
Audio: Suicide Confusion and Chimera Research Funding
Last week I was on the Mike Allen Show to discuss our cultural confusion about suicide and the troubling trend toward chimeras. Suicide Confusion September was National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Last September was also a big month for assisted suicide advocates. Among the headlines last month: The first minor was euthanized in Belgium since Parliament lifted all age restrictions … Read More
Dueling Suicide Headlines
Via Wesley Smith: Dueling headlines in this Bay area newspaper perfectly illustrate our suicidal split personality. Prevention for some, facilitation for others. We can’t have it both ways, folks. No, really. We can’t. It turns out assisted suicide actually increases other suicides.
Funding Chimera Research: Your Chance to Speak Up
By this point, many, if not most of you have heard that the NIH recently announced that it will probably lift a ban on funding for animal-human chimeras. To be clear, there are no federal laws prohibiting any of this, other than one statute that prohibits gestating a human baby in an animal womb (fetus farming). Last September, the NIH … Read More
BioTalk18: Self-Regulation Science Doesn’t Work
Scientists love to give themselves “ethical guidelines” — only to “reevaluate” and revise those guidelines when they are no longer convenient. A perfect recent example of this came this May when scientists in two separate studies reported keeping embryos alive, healthy and developing for 12-13 days. In both studies the embryos grew autonomously and began processes that lead to organ … Read More
Fetal Body Parts “Scandal” Bigger Than Planned Parenthood
Last year, a series of undercover videos exposed appeared to show Planned Parenthood executives negotiating the sale of fetal body parts from some of their abortion clinics. These videos triggered a Congressional investigation into the relationship between the abortion industry and “fetal procurement organizations” and whether or not there is any “buying and selling” or profit being made, which is … Read More
Audio: On Me Before You and the Scientifically Progressive Catholic Church
“I had heard this was a good book and read it. I was horrified.” That was the reaction from a friend of mine to the book Me Before You, which has been made into a major motion picture hitting theaters this weekend. Last Friday I talked to Mike Allen about why Me Before You is yet another bad chapter in … Read More
The Scientifically Progressive Catholic Church
During a recent appearance on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, talk show host and former news anchor Katie Couric made the following comment: “I was at a scientific conference at the Vatican a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was actually very progressive of the Catholic Church to want to understand science…” In a previous episode of BioTalk, … Read More
Me Before You and the Slow Suicide of the West
Sometimes movie spoilers are a welcome thing. Several months ago I saw a trailer for the movie Me Before You and got a little excited. A modern romance featuring a disabled main character. It looked so positive and promising. I should have known better. Apparently Me Before You, which hits theaters next weekend, was a novel first and many disability … Read More