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Stem Cell Research |
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EU will fund stem cell science - But there's a catch, by Chris Williams: The EU yesterday decided not to follow the Bush administration's lead and declined to impose a blanket ban on federal funding of scientists doing research on embryonic stem cells. The politicians disappointed scientists, however, by refusing to allow EU cash to be used in projects which involve harvesting stem cells from surplus IVF embryos. Science's Stem-Cell Scam - It should change its name to Pseudoscience, by Michael Fumento: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) receive tremendous media attention, with oft-repeated claims that they have the potential to cure virtually every disease known. Yet there are spoilsports, self included, who point out that they have yet to even make it into a human clinical trial. A way around dilemmas of stem cells, by Carl T. Hall: Stem cell scientists in the United Kingdom are reporting today a gene discovery that suggests a way to take adult cells back to an embryonic state -- a discovery that could help treat diseases without relying on controversial human embryonic stem cells or cloning. 'A Sad Way of Doing Big Science', by Jennifer Barrett: Two of the nation's top universities recently announced plans to pursue embryonic stem-cell research. An expert explains why the news is so significant -- and so controversial. Science, faith and politics collide at stem cell symposium: Science, faith, politics and morality swapped turns in the spotlight Thursday at a University of Missouri-Columbia symposium on stem cell research. Though the two-day panel discussion, held Wednesday and Thursday, was billed as an apolitical effort to better understand the contentious research technique, signs of a potential statewide vote in November on stem cell research were hard to miss. Defending Human Embryonic Life, by Dr. John P. Hubert MD, FACS: This essay addresses the moral status of the human embryo. It asserts that on the basis of biology and metaphysics, the human embryo should be accorded full moral status, that is, inviolability. Stem Cell Research - Science and the Future, by Terry Gross: Since 1998, when scientists isolated embryonic stem cells in a lab, questions over how -- and whether -- to use them have abounded. In Stem Cell Now, bioethics expert Christopher Thomas Scott explores the possibilities of what some consider the greatest discovery since nuclear fusion. Stem cell scandal validates science - Fraud and mistakes are nearly always uncovered by the rigors of the scientific method: The revelation that "breakthrough" research on embryonic stem cells by a South Korean scientist was based on fake data is, ironically enough, validation -- not condemnation -- of the scientific process. Yes, fraud and mistakes happen in science, as they do in nearly every human endeavor. But science diligently practiced, unlike many other human enterprises, is nearly always self-correcting. New Report Finds More Stem Cell Cover-Ups: Seoul - Hwang Woo Suk, the South Korean cloning expert accused of scientific fraud, used almost four times as many human eggs than he admitted for his stem cell research and appeared to have coerced his junior researchers to donate eggs, a television network disclosed Tuesday. Scandal Over Stem-Cell Research - A hospitable environment for scientific fraud, by Spyros Andreopoulos: During my career as a science writer, I grew accustomed to believing that if something is published in a prestigious scientific journal such as Science or Nature, then it must be true. Science investigates 2004 paper: The U.S. journal Science said yesterday it is investigating the authenticity of Hwang Woo-suk's 2004 paper on embryonic stem cells, in which Dr. Hwang reported transplanting a somatic cell into a human ovum with the nucleus removed to create an embryonic stem cell line. Embryonic Cloning 'Embedded in Lies,' Says Ethicist, by Patrick Goodenough: As a probe gets underway in South Korea into claims of fraud in "landmark" human embryonic cloning research, an ethicist opposed to the controversial work argued Monday that the entire field is characterized by deceit. Ethics Commission to Investigate Hwang, by Hee-Kyung Kim: The National Life Ethics Deliberation Commission, a presidential consultative body, has decided to investigate into the ethical controversy over the research team of the distinguished professor, Hwang Woo-suk. Ethics, medicine must partner in the debate over stem cells, by Bishop Thomas Wenski: A July Pew Research Center poll indicated that more than 50 percent of Americans have heard a "little" or "nothing at all" about the current stem-cell debate. That is likely to change as legislative and constitutional-ballot efforts continue either to subsidize indiscriminately further research in this area or to ban tax subsidies to a type of research that many citizens find morally objectionable. S. Korean Stem Cell Expert Apologizes for Ethical Breach - Scientist Admits Team Members Provided Egg Samples That Led to Cloning of First Human Embryo, by Anthony Faiola and Joohee Cho: Hwang Woo Suk, the leading stem cell expert whose South Korean team cloned the first human embryo and created the first cloned dog, publicly apologized Thursday for ethical breaches at his lab and said he would resign from all his official posts. Stem-cell study paid 20 women for eggs, by Choe Sang-Hun: South Korea's groundbreaking stem-cell research program was plunged deeper into an ethics controversy on Monday, with a scientist acknowledging that he had paid 20 women for contributing their eggs. Stem Cell Researchers Choose Singapore: Two government biologists heavily recruited by Stanford University have decided to work in Singapore instead, saying they will face fewer restrictions on stem cell research overseas. Neal Copeland and Nancy Jenkins, geneticists for the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md., said they were concerned about delays in the allocation of $3 billion set aside by a California ballot measure approved in 2004. China begins to tackle ethics of bio-research, by Zhang Jun: CHINA expects to draw up a comprehensive set of ethics by 2010 to regulate research into the cloning of embryonic stem cells, clinical drug testing and genetically modified crops, a senior official with the Chinese Academy of Sciences said yesterday. Though details weren't revealed, a group of Shanghai scientists has proposed a more concrete plan that could also feed into the national program. China now bans the cloning of humans, but its present bio-ethics rules are otherwise general in nature. Inventing Ethics - A collaborator walks out on the South Korean cloning genius, citing ethical lapses, by Nigel M. de S. Cameron: Dr. Hwang Woo-suk, the flamboyant Korean cloning expert, has hit a bit of a snag in his attempts to be the world leader in cloning. But first, let's note his many achievements: the first cloned human embryo to be destroyed for stem cells; the first cloned dog; the first claimed international network for stem-cell supply. The first two were technical triumphs, the third a public relations coup that quickly drew sign-ons from all over the globe. Embryo scientist quits team over ethics: A leading American researcher in embryology has ended a 20-month partnership with his South Korean counterparts, claiming they flouted ethical rules and then lied about their practices. Gerald Schatten, of the University of Pittsburgh, said he would no longer work with the cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-Suk, following allegations that eggs were taken from a junior scientist in violation of rules meant to prevent coercion. Stem Cell Research Probes Uncharted Ethical Waters: Prof. Gerald Schatten of the University of Pittsburgh has ended his 20-month collaboration in stem cell research with Prof. Hwang Woo-suk and his team, citing ethical concerns about the way human eggs were obtained for the project. In a paper published in February last year, Prof. Hwang said he used 242 ova donated by 16 women. They allegedly included a research assistant of Hwang's, who was not in a good position to refuse a request from her boss. Ethical debate undeterred by new research - Studies show embryos remain intact, but critics are unswayed, by Carl T. Hall: Most scientists would like nothing better than to tone down some of the controversy surrounding human embryonic stem cell research. But some of their latest efforts in that direction appear to be having the opposite effect. New laboratory results were reported last week showing how it might be possible to generate embryonic stem cells without destroying any embryos. But the reaction made it clear there's no end in sight to the stem cell debate. Stem cells - don't dodge the debate, by Jennie Bristow: Even if scientists didn't have to destroy embryos, that wouldn't end the ethics war. 'Stem cell creators find answer to ethical doubts' proclaimed one headline on 17 October (1). In work published by the science journal Nature this week, two teams report the successful use in mice of two different techniques for deriving embryonic stem cells without requiring the destruction of viable embryos (2). Stem cell ethics charter adopted in Seoul, by Theresa Kim Hwa-young: Park Sang-chul, director of the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (KSMCB), announced yesterday that the Society was adopting an Ethics Charter for Life Science Scientists that would provide guidelines to protect human embryos. Stem-cell researchers debate ethics of new methods: CHICAGO -- (KRT) -- When researcher Rudolf Jaenisch started work earlier this year on a method of producing embryonic stem cells that would avoid ethical objections, one of his first hurdles was not scientific but personal: He did not believe there was any moral problem in the first place. No Embryos Lost in New Stem Cell Procedure: Obtaining lines of coveted embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo has been a "holy grail" of scientists, and now separate teams say they have found ways of addressing such a goal. While the work of both teams is preliminary, and tests have focused on mice, each group has proved - at least in principle - that stem cells can be produced effectively without destroying an embryo. Stem cells, with ethics, by Nicholas Wade: In a development that may shift the political debate over embryonic stem cells, researchers have devised two new techniques designed to alleviate ethical concerns. Is a Stem Cell Ethics Compromise in the Offing, Federal Funding to Follow?: "Recent reports splashed across mainstream media indicating that researchers have obtained human embryonic stem cells without aggravating current ethical issues may create a compromise that paves the way for previously prohibited federal funding," stated SmallCap Sentinel analyst D.R. Clark. Scientists Tackle Stem Cell Ethics, by Kim Tae-gyu: South Korean Scientists have set up an ethics chart on life science studies to ensure a respect for living beings comes first in controversial research such as in the area of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic Cells, No Embryo Needed - Hunting for Ways Out of an Impasse, by Gina Kolata: If there were no controversy over human embryonic stem cells, Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch of M.I.T. and Dr. George Daley of Harvard Medical School would probably never have started some unusual, and difficult, experiments. Stem cells, a type of universal cell in early embryos, can in theory grow into any of the body's tissues and organs. But embryonic stem cells are drawn from human embryos after they have grown for about five days in the lab, and obtaining those cells requires that the embryos be destroyed. The moral objection has been that that is destroying human life. Catholic Church Funds Adult Stem Cell Research: The Catholic Church in Korea has decided to donate money for adult stem cell research. The move comes amid strong Vatican opposition to embryonic stem cell research and is reflects support for research into an alternative. The Church has been among the most vocal opponents of embryonic stem cell research based on the belief that embryos are human beings. In Korea, a country leading that field of science, the Catholic Church is donating millions of dollars to aid research involving adult stem cells in the hope of reducing the increasing reliance on embryonic stem cells to treat hard-to-cure diseases. CSE (Citizens for Science and Ethics) Launched to Support Ethical Guidelines In the Area of Stem Cell Research: A constitutional ballot amendment petition was filed Monday and approved September 22, 2005, for Citizens for Science and Ethics, Inc., a non-profit, 501 (c) (4) corporation based in Florida, which would preclude state funding for "experiments that involve destruction of a live human embryo." Stem-cell research ethics revision urged: University of California-San Francisco scientists are urging a revision of stem-cell research ethics in advance of using the procedure to treat disease. Writing in the current on-line issue of the journal Stem Cells, members of UCSF's Campus Advisory Committee on Human Gamete, Embryo and Stem-Cell Research say current practices must be amended to promote both the safety and well-being of patients who participate in clinical trials and the confidentiality of people who donate the embryos, oocytes and sperm that contribute to the development of embryonic stem cells. Former Embryo Researcher Produces Play to Explore Ethics of Genetic Selection: Dr. Jeffrey Nisker is a Professor of Obstetrics-Gynaecology and Oncology, and Coordinator of Medical Ethics and Humanities at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario. He spent years in the fertility industry creating, and experimenting upon and destroying, embryonic children. While Nisker seems far from converting to the pro-life position, radical developments in the IVF industry, including sex and genetic selection of embryos, has prompted him to abandon IVF work and move full time into ethics. Embryo Research Oversight Agencies Ruled by Utilitarian Eugenic "Ethics": The British Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has recently given the green light for the creation of designer babies to be used as tissue farms, the creation of cloned human beings for various research projects and the eugenic selection and destruction of "unfit" human embryos. The HFEA uses utilitarian principles of bioethics that are now standard in the international research community which admit of no inherent dignity to the embryonic human being. Stem cell research ethics probed: A conference will be held in Israel September 6-7 entitled, "Creating in God's Image: Ethical Challenges in Stem Cell Research and In Vitro Fertilization." The event will feature leading Jewish scientists and rabbinic leaders discussing the ethical implications of medical research using human stem cells and the Jewish position on new developments in IVF treatment. Conference to focus on stem cell ethics, by JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH: A two-day conference on the medical ethics of stem-cell research and in-vitro (IVF) fertilization organized by New York's Yeshiva University (YU) will be held next week at Bar-Ilan University. Called "Creating in God's Image," it is also co-sponsored by several other institutions, including Columbia University's Center for Bioethics, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations and Bar-Ilan. Embryos and ethics - A new technique that could make therapeutic cloning less controversial: AT THIS stage, it is merely a proof of principle. But, this week, researchers demonstrated a new way of creating so-called human stem cells tailored to an individual adult patient -- potentially, therapeutic cloning -- without creating or destroying human embryos. Stem cells can transform themselves into the many different cell types that make up a body. Optimists hope they might eventually be used to generate replacement tissues and even entire organs for people who have lost theirs to disease or in an accident. At present, the technique most commonly used to create them is controversial because it involves experimenting on tiny clusters of cells that might, in other circumstances, grow into people. Of stem cells, what would Gandhi say?, by Pankaj Mishra: In 2001, President George W. Bush restricted U.S. federal financing for stem cell research. The decision, which was shaped at least partly by the Republican Party's evangelical Christian base, and which disappointed many American scientists and businessmen, provoked joy in India. Researchers make 'embryonic-like' stem cells from umbilical cord blood: A breakthrough in human stem cell research, producing embryonic-like cells from umbilical cord blood may substantially speed up the development of treatments for life-threatening illnesses, injuries and disabilities. The discovery made during a project undertaken with experts from the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Synthecon Corporation in the United States provides medical researchers and physicians with an ethical and reliable source of human stem cells for the first time. Science, ethics grapple with stem cells, by Kingson Man: It starts off simple: one cell meets another cell. They make the preliminary introductions, and, taking a liking to each other, they unite and become a new cell, full of promise for the future. The cell divides, divides again, and five days later it is a hollow ball of 200 or so cells, a prodigious result from its humble beginnings of sperm and egg. It is from there that things start to get complicated. Bush's bioethicist on stem cell alternatives: Alan Boyle, science editor at MSNBC, interviews Dr. Leon Kass, chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics. His comments on cell reprogramming, Kass argues, shed important light on the debate over stem cell research. Ethicist Proposes Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy: The debate over human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research can be informed by a line of moral reasoning thus far overlooked in legislative drafting, according to Louis M. Guenin, lecturer on ethics in science at Harvard Medical School, whose commentary will be published in the journal Stem Cells and is available now as an early online publication in Stem Cells Express. |
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