Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Sound Science, and Moral Values

Embryonic stem cell research will move forward with federal funding.

Upholding his campaign promise, President Obama signed an executive order reversing the ban on federal support for stem cell research.

Put in place by the Bush administration in 2001, the ban on federal funding for stem cell research created what Obama called a “false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research — and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.”

Embryonic stem cell research, he said, could “help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions.”

A statement by former first-lady Nancy Reagan read, “Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to do everything in our power to find cures for these diseases — and soon.”

While other countries have moved forward with embryonic stem cell research, scientists in the United States have had to work with severe restrictions, effectively halting progress.

Researchers value embryonic stem cells for their ability to morph into any cell of the body, potentially curing diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, as well as spinal cord injuries. Dedicated researchers, now free to concentrate on the task at hand, will advance our knowledge and understanding of embryonic stem cells in an effort to unlock their full capabilities. There are no guarantees, but the potential to ease human suffering is enormous.

The sons and daughters, the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, and the caregivers who watch while loved ones suffer have reason to hope. We owe it to them. We owe it to ourselves. We have the capacity and the will… and the humanity and the conscience. Now we have the federal funding.

Our poll today asks: Can science and moral values co-exist? Please take a moment to share your reasons why… or why not.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Therese D.

6:16AM PDT on Mar 16, 2009

President Obama is not introducing Embryonic Stem Cell Research, it has being going on within the private sector for over 25 years with what results to date? Adult Stem cell research has already produced results and look at the recent breakthroughs in Scotland on pluripotent cells. My Uncle got Parkinsons early in his life and we looked after him for 17 years. I am currently close to someone with Alzheimer’s, I fully understand the situation, but I would not like any embryo, a potential child, to be used for experiments to advance a cure when there are other options to do so. Recently this website had a heading that more money is spent on the cure for baldness then Malaria, we all should be focusing research spending on diseases that are curable and killing thousands of people on a daily basis. Malaria kills thousands of children every minute of the day, £5 would buy a mosquito net to save them. Because it is not a local issue, nor of commercial value to the strong pharmaceutical lobbies, we do respond as we should and neither does our Government who spend our tax money in our name.

send a green star

Tommy H.

1:31PM PDT on Mar 11, 2009

Any one saying yes is living in the dark. Do you think what our Gov. is doing is going to be told to everybody. If you think they havent been doing it you are living under a rock. Sorry I deal with people in Gov. or use to . They is no stopping it. When you see the underground prosaons being filled you will not be able to stop it. T-Hawk

James J.

9:06AM PDT on Mar 11, 2009

Scientists stick to the rules more than most. This is so because thier reputation and being able to continue to do research depends on it.

The results of thier research are scrutinized by their peers. This means if they did anything to skew thier results or thier research they could be a laughing stock or basturds. Also since most but not all work is done in a university setting it depends on funding from the university and government sources. To keep or get funding these results and the statistical data must fit well. If they don't, no funding. No funding means that thier results were bad or they didn't play by the rules.

No other profession faces the scrutiny that faces researchers. No other profession has the ability to be a world wide hero or a world wide goat like being a researcher.

How do I know this? I've been a research assistant in reproductive physiology. I also had to do a research project of my own when doing my masters degree.

I learned that the research and the statistical data for the results are judged in what is termed "P values" where the number one is perfect and over the number one is lousy. Most research never reaches the number one but somewhere around .9XXXXXXX, the "X's" represent number place holders after the number 9.
So everything in research is very strict and must be adhered to if the researcher wants to continue being a researcher.

Marena C.

7:37AM PDT on Mar 11, 2009

Even though I am 70 years old, suffering from MS and am an insulin dependent diabetic (injecting twice a day) I am not comfortable with embryonic stem cell research (nothing to do with religion) I just don't trust scientists to stick to the rules - no deliberate growing of embryos and possible cloning. Off course I will not be around by the time the scientist conclude their tests and "possibly" find cures for most of the diseases mentioned by the president. Anyway, I don't live in the US, so I would not benefit from such treatments.
I just thank God that I can STILL look after myself and am not a burden to anyone.

Lucy S.

5:41AM PDT on Mar 11, 2009

I keep praying for a mercurial, but now its much too late for my 94 year old mother! You see she has various illnesses that due to moden medicen have keept her alive but at what cost, the parkinsons has been robbing her of vast lifelong memories and experances. Only to leave her to be cared for by her children, no loger being able to walk under her own power with out the aid of a cane. Today, we will be geting a wheelchair in order to move her around without falling. You see parkingson has also stollen her ablity to stand upright also. And lets not forget the diabeties, and artirites and what they have done to my mother. Along with all the other conditions we are treating her for. The thing I can not take is seeing my mother who I have loved and cared for these past 52 years slip away from me and call me by the wrong name.. so to all you out there who say this is wrong.. I ask how do you mend a broken daughters heart and back?? One day in one way or anther we will have cures for these devastaing illness but it will be too late for my mother! And I can see in 20 or more years, health care costs going down cause of these new treatments.. but I will not be around to see them.. cause I have lost my youth to my mothers illness just as if I had them myself. Thank you President Obama for having the guts to put thse resherch into action! From a long time suporter of former first-lady Nancy Reagan and President Reagan..