UC Irvine is teaming up with a fertility clinic here in Orange County to create at least a few lines of human embryonic stem cells. This makes them one of the first groups in the country trying to produce fresh lines for the study of everything from spinal cord injuries to Parkinson’s disease.
The federal government prohibits the use of public money to create new lines of stem cells, which involves the destruction of days-old embryos. But it does underwrite research on existing lines. Keirstead works with both privately and publicly funded lines.
His efforts to use stem cells to restore movement in paralyzed rodents has received wide media attention, including a profile earlier this year on CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
Keirstead said it will take about $100,000 a year, over several years, to create the new lines. But some of the funds have already been obtained, and he and the university are trying to raise more.
How can you argue that this science isn’t helping humankind?
Bush and the Far right really don’t understand science.
I cringed at the State of the Union address where Bush said that he didn’t want the formation of Human-Animal hybrids. This was the most internationally watched political speach, and Bush exihibits his utter ignorance on the world stage.
Human-Animal Hybrids already exist and are being used to improve the lives of millions of people around the world. With the removal of beef and pork derived insulin from the market, ALL insulin is being produced by recombinant technology. This involves the splicing of the human DNA into bacteria. The waste product that is produced from the human-bacteria hydrid is human insulin. Once the extraneous products are removed, the result is pure 100% human insulin. This product of a human-animal hybrid is saving lives and improving the lives of millions of people every day.
Oh well, Bush don’t read, much less trust science, does he? Nor does he really care?