Advances in Medical Science

[naruki_oni]

It probably won't happen here in the next four years, but in South Korea stem cell research has enabled a paralyzed woman to walk - two decades after being disabled!

On the other hand, I've heard that the Bush Anti-science ban is only on federal funding, not on the legality of doing the research. Thus, California is supposed to have funded their own research in defiance of the Neanderthal in Chief's wishes.

If true, way to fucking go, California! I almost forgive you for picking an actor rather than a good politician. (To be fair, he is a good actor in his genres.)

Comments

What's in the article is different

[(Anonymous)]

It is umbilical cord stem cells. The research on those stem cells has been going on much longer, and funding isn't restricted on them.

In voting for the California stem cell research bond measure, I weighed the cost against the hopeful benefits. If my taxes go up because of it, I still think it is money well spent.

As for the private sector, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute does fund embryonic stem cell research without restrictions on the lines. One researcher supported by HHMI has created 17 new lines.

buddha

Re: What's in the article is different

[blackbyrd2.livejournal.com]

I assumed that embryonic stem cell research would have provided much more advanced results than umbilical, although, re-reading the article I see comments about embryonic producing more rejection by the host body, so maybe not.

How does HHMI manage unrestricted research? I'd have thought Bush and the R. Right would have managed some legislation to prevent it entirely, regardless of funding. I'm glad to hear someone is doing the work.

I think the difference is

[(Anonymous)]

and why the push for embryonic stem cell research is the umbilical stem cells are limited in what types of cells they can produce, while researchers think embryonic stem cells are unlimited. I hadn't heard about the rejection problems with embryonic stem cells before, that is definitely a problem.

So far Bush has only restricted research getting federal money, so HHMI and California can fund any stem cell research they want, for now. I wouldn't put it past Bush to try to stop the research now that more non-federal funding is happening.

buddha