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As a relative newcomer to this LIST I have found the discussion/debate on Stem Cell research to be fascinating as well as very educational and would like to thank those who have contributed to both sides of the discussion. I am very much in favour of any research which can end the suffering experienced by those with PD and my stance is very much pro Quality-of-Life. In my experience of a family member with PD (my father) is that this debilitating disease effects the Quality-of-Life of at least 2 people, the PWP and the Care Giver and so any cure for PD benefits not only the millions of people throughout the world who have PD but also the millions of people who support them. I am therefore very much on the side of responsible Stem Cell research which shows so much promise. In the bigger picture, I am sure that Stem Cell research will continue with both Adult as well as embryonic stem cells, if not in the USA then in other countries because, now that the cat is out of the proverbial bag, it will be impossible to put it back. Narrow minded people like Sen Brownback have about as much hope of stopping it as King Kanute did of holding back the tide. Assuming that the Stem Cell research results in a successful cure for Parkinson's and other debilitating diseases by rebuilding that most complex of human organs, the brain, it does raise some interesting issues. If the brain and other complex organs such as the eyes can be repaired/rebuilt then I assume other organs would also the able to be repaired and so what will people die of if the future? Will we all become immortal? I can imagine going along for my annual medical checkup in the future and the doctor diagnoses the potential failure of an organ and so gives me an injection of some stem cell derived product to repair the organ back to its new state. Perhaps with a bit of repair (maybe a lot of repair) we could all have the bodies of healthy 20 year olds. Sounds good to me (I am 60) Perhaps the Stem Cell research will have to include some planned obsolescence of a critical organ which, at some defined time, will fail catastrophically and we will drop off the twig. It would certainly eliminate a lot of the pain and suffering which many people have to go through at present. I recently read a book called "Walking" by Casey Meyers who said that his goal was to live a healthy life until he was 99 and then walk to the Funeral Parlour and drop dead on the doorstep. What a way to go! Unfortunately some of the right-to-life people seem to see something noble in pain and suffering and how anyone could promote (as I believe Sen Brownback has) of a bill which would promote people living with a very poor quality of life drugged to the eyeballs is beyond me. Does he have a vested interest in a drug company? I will now crawl back into my shell again. Cheers Roger Evans