Thursday, March 26, 2009

Mr. President: Is this science, too?

Scientists find safer way to make human stem cells

One of the first pronouncements our new President made was that he would restore science to its proper place.  Whereupon, he revoked the previous Administration's restriction on use of Federal funds for research using embryonic stem cells.

Now, we have this announcement from the science community:

A team at the University of Wisconsin said they made the so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, from human cells without using viruses or exotic genes, which leave behind genetic material that might pose risks if the cells were used as medical therapies.

So, I guess, the need for destroying embryos in the name of science wasn't so crucial after all.  Maybe, even, ill-advised.  That makes Obama's stance sound more than a little like hubris.

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