It wasn't so much politics but the fact that at the time the only
reliable source for active stem cells was from human embryos. Stem cells
could be obtained from adult tissues but they are rarer and difficult to
activate. And as of yet, no one had figured out how to induce stem cells
from adult somatic cells. Initially, embryonic stem cells were obtained
from aborted embryos and a number of self-replicating stem cell lines were
established. George W mandated that no Federal funds could be used to
establish new embryonic stem cell line from aborted embryos, but the
existing stem cell lines were OK to use. He did this for two reasons: his
opposition to abortion and secondly some were pushing to allow frozen in
vitro fertilized embryos, if not implanted into someones womb, be diverted
to stem cell research use. Personally I have no problem with the first.
Elective abortion is the law of the land. Why not use what would otherwise
be wasted. The second reason however is the leading edge of a very slippery
slope and you can be sure there are plenty of ethicists who are reluctant
to go down that road.
Charlie
On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 1:09 PM, Mike Lazzari <watershed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> > The politics of the day determined that there was only ONE way to get
> > stem cells and that was from destroying embryos. The USA scientific
> > community so keyed in on that, they overlooked other means. Instead of
> > looking elsewhere, the scientific community stuck their collective
> > heads in their rear ends. Besides, it wasn't a ban on the research,
> > just a restriction on the federal funding of one aspect of the
> > research. The misinformation campaigns (on both sides) were so
> > effective that few people understood what really happened.
> Revisionist history. It was and still is the religious right with their
> heads "where the sun don't shine".
>
> Enough on that...
>
> Mike
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