Some researchers have suggested that umbilical cord blood stem cells might be as pluripotent as researchers theorize embryonic stem cells to be, that is, that they can be transformed into any kind of cell. Both theories remain unproven since it hasn’t yet been done yet with any kind of stem . . . . Continue Reading »
At least this is an issue about which most of our leaders can agree: Stopping animal rights terrorism. All except Dennis Kucinich, that is. He apparently doesn’t know the difference between peaceful protest and threats to kill, bombing, identity theft, vandalism, physical attack, and the other . . . . Continue Reading »
Organ sales also reduce human life to a commodity, a growing problem in several areas of society. And it has real consequences. This story explains vividly why it should be against the law. Poor Pakistanis were exploited for their organs and now live in ill health. Libertarians and others who see . . . . Continue Reading »
I received a very nice letter from a reader of Secondhand Smoke that I thought I would share with y’all to see what you think: She wrote in part: “I am curious to know what your stance on self-starvation is, since someone recently accused you of being a “hypocrite” (I really . . . . Continue Reading »
The Sunday Times has a story about the Church of England supposedly endorsing infant euthanasia in the wake of the proposal to permit infanticide of severely disabled babies. As you can imagine, that caught my eye! But upon reading the story, it appears that the Church has ratified the right to . . . . Continue Reading »
This editorial from Investor’s Business Daily is right on the money. Tremeondous progress is being made in adult/umbilical cord blood stem cells (which is why it gets more private funding), all but ignored by the media in their obsession to defeat the “heartless right wing Bible . . . . Continue Reading »
The inestimable Will Saletan writes in Slate about the late election and biotechnology. One need not agree with everything he asserts to know that the following is not only brilliantly written, but it is unquestionably true:“Meanwhile, the technology grows more complicated. Stem cells from . . . . Continue Reading »
Yes, once more we find that adult stem cells have great therapeutic potential, this time with Type 2 diabetes. But, we must not let such stories distract us from the orders laid down by our great science lords: Must...give...embryonic...researchers...blank...funding...check. . . . . Continue Reading »
Now, The Economist has editorialized that it is “brave” for UK doctors to want to open the door to infanticide for disabled babies. Why kill disabled babies, according to the magazine’s editorial writers? “Take the case of Charlotte Wyatt, born at 26 weeks in 2003 with severe . . . . Continue Reading »
For those yearning for or worried about the emerging Brave New World, the Center for Genetics and Society, a left-leaning think tank that grapples with the ethical issues involving biotechnology, has a new blog. Check it . . . . Continue Reading »