Yesterday morning I testified at a MO House committee hearing in favor of a bill placing pro-life protections on some life science research grants (so that the money cannot go toward human cloning/ESCR). During testimony, two cloning advocates spoke up in opposition to the bill – one a major cloning lobbyist for Washington University near St. Louis. That two cloning … Read More
BioTalk: Stem Cell Debate Not Dead Yet
On the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009, Dr. Oz declared that the stem cell debate was effectively “over”. He explained that embryonic stem cells were harder to control and touted the then brand new discovery of induced pluripotent (Ips) stem cells. I know many in the pro-life movement who agree with Dr. Oz’ assessment and, in many ways, he was … Read More
7 Cloning Quick Takes
In case you missed the news this week: 1. Scientists Clone Human Embryos To Make Stem Cells 2. This is not the first time human embryos have been cloned, but it is the first time they have survived long enough to either be implanted in a uterus or destroyed for their stem cells (these scientists did the latter). 3. Let … Read More
Fox’s Stem Cell Honesty
Three years ago on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Mehmet Oz told Michael J. Fox that his quest down the yellow brick road of embryonic stem cell research may lead to nowhere. It didn’t seem to fully register with him at the time, but now he may be catching on. In an interview with Dianne Sawyer, Fox and his Foundation … Read More
Cloning Humor
Cloning hasn’t been in the news for quite some time, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going on right now. Recall: we did not find out when the first embryos were cloned until after scientists wrote a report about their experimentation that had been going on for probably years. If nowhere else, we know it’s definitely going on in … Read More
Appeal Process Moving Forward for Federal Stem Cell Funding Suit
In 2009 two researchers filed a lawsuit claiming that new National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines easing restrictions on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research are a violation the Dicky-Wicker Amendment, a budgetary amendment prohibiting federal tax dollars from being used to create or destroy human embryos for scientific research. In August 2010, district court judge Royce Lamberth agreed and … Read More
Minnesota Seeks Ban on Human Cloning
Lawmakers in Minnesota have proposed legislation to make human cloning illegal throughout the state. Good for them! I hope they have better success than we did in Missouri a few years ago (see this post for an explanation of that disaster). It is a common misconception among Americans that our country prohibits human cloning. But, then, most people also think … Read More
Studying Embryonic Stem Cells for…Space Travel?
I’ve told you many times that, though they may be sold to the public as necessary for the future curing of every major disease known to man, scientists want to, and indeed are using embryonic stem cells for many other reasons. For example: A team of researchers in Australia simulated zero-gravity on earth in order to test how embryonic stem … Read More
Appeals Court Suspends Federal Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Ban
This just in (h/t Jill Stanek): President Barack Obama’s administration can fund embryonic stem-cell research while it appeals a decision banning government support for any activity using cells taken from human embryos, an appeals court said. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington today put on hold a ruling by District Judge Royce Lamberth during its review of the ban. … Read More
Why Do I Oppose Embryonic Stem Cell Research?
Tonight’s the big night! I don’t think I’ll ruin the show for you by sharing this. I recorded a voice over for the video I shot for EWTN of me getting in and out of the car. I didn’t put it together with the video myself, though it should be together on the show tonight. But if you want a … Read More