Archive for the ‘Stem Cell Research’ Category

Brown and the Blight of British Bioethics

Back in 2006, I provided testimony before a committee of the Illinois state legislature on research involving embryo-destructive research and “therapeutic” cloning. At the time I was shocked by the complete unfamiliarity these legislators had with the basic concepts underlying the issue they...
May 22nd, 2008 | General Bioethics, Stem Cell Research | Read More

Bailey and the Bioconservatives

The American Spectator has published an article I wrote on transhumanism, biotechnology, and Reason science correspondent Ronald Bailey. An excerpt: Bailey makes a similar sneaky acknowledgement using carefully selected language. “It is true that the proposed human animal cybrids would contain...
March 28th, 2008 | General Bioethics, Stem Cell Research | Read More

The Price of Eggs:
Deflating the Hype of Theraputic Cloning

In January 2006, I provided testimony before the Human Services Committee of the Illinois General Assembly on the on public funding of research involving embryo-destructive research and “therapeutic” cloning. I want to quote a length from what I said to that skeptical group of Democrats to show how...
November 29th, 2007 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

The Rorschach Test of ESCR

A bit of skin is all it took to transform one of the most controversial ethical issues of our time. Dr. James Thomson and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, working independently, are the first to show how embryonic-type stem cells can be produced directly from ordinary human skin cells, without first creating or...
November 21st, 2007 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

The Embryo Eaters:
A Bioethical Thought Experiment

[Note: Since I'm busy with The Washington Briefing this week, I thought I'd recycle this post from April 2005.] The following thought experiment is used to explore some basic assumptions currently held in the field of bioethics. As with any such hypothetical scenario, a certain degree of liberty is taken...
October 18th, 2007 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

Stem Cell Halfway Houses:
The Promise of AFS Research

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, scientists from Harvard and Wake Forest report that they have discovered a new source of stems cells that have the ability to create muscle, bone, fat, blood vessel, nerve, and liver cells in the laboratory. These newly discovered stem cells, which they have named...
January 7th, 2007 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

Potential Dupes:
The Public’s Willful Ignorance about ESCR

Over at RedBlueChristian I made a comment about there being no empirical evidence that embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR) will ever produce a cure for anything, much less a spinal cord injury. Andrew P. replied that I might be overstating the speculative nature of the field of research. In rebuttal...
October 23rd, 2006 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

ESCR, NPR, and Me

On Tuesday, NPR
July 20th, 2006 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

Tricky Dickey:
Congress, Cowards, and Embryonic Stem Cell Research

This week the Senate is expected to approve legislation already passed by the House that will expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. If it passes, President Bush will veto the legislation, a move that should be praised by pro-lifers, fiscal conservatives, and anyone who values science...
July 17th, 2006 | Stem Cell Research | Read More

The Cost of Beliefs:
Economics and Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Men willingly believe what they wish. — Julius Caesar Stress causes ulcers. Until a few decades ago, almost everyone
June 7th, 2005 | Stem Cell Research | Read More