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Bob, As per usual, your letter is excellent. I'm sorry that I still haven't heard back from my IVF contact. Perhaps she's on vacation. We're not in close touch. Charlotte Camilla Flintermann wrote: > This is an excellent letter, Bob, I like the fact that you don't attack the > other writer, but state the facts as you know them. Good job ! > > >--------------------------- > (Bob's letter) > >I feared the spread of misinformation in my letter to you > >published on July 19. My fears materialized in the August 2, > >Letter to the editor titled A lot of misinformation. It > >was abundant. Let me say there were points to be > >acknowledged. They are, first that adult stem cell research > >should be pursued. These cells are so different from > >embryonic stem cells that it would be morally wrong to > >abandon that work and second cell rejection remains a > >concern in both types of research and must be vigorously > >pursued. > > > > However to suggest that adult stem cells are better than > >embryonic stem cells is simply untrue. There is no > >scientific data to support that as a conclusion. If there > >were there would be no need for the debate. In the recent > >report issued by the National Institute of Health, the > >following excerpts characterize adult stem cells this way. > >Full report available at > >http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/scireport.htm > > > >" There is no evidence that an adult stem cell is > >pluripotent ..." This means it cannot yet be used for any > >purpose other than what it already exists to do. This is > >particularly true of the very successful but highly > >restricted use of bone marrow cells. > > > >" Adult stem cells are rare ... There are insufficient > >numbers of adult stem cells ... they are difficult to > >identify isolate and purify … they do not replicate in > >culture" > > > >There are no observed "qualitative differences between stem > >cells obtained from umbilical cord blood and those obtained > >from bone marrow or peripheral blood. " > > Probably because the cells are the mother's cells and are > >therefore actually adult cells. > > > >"Human embryonic stem cells can be generated in abundant > >quantities … in their undifferentiated state for many, many > >generations." This is where they have their maximum > >potential. " ... millions of cells can be generated from one > >embryonic stem cell ..." This is not true of blood and bone > >marrow. They fail to proliferate in the laboratory. Without > >a dependable supply of cells the needed research to > >determine the cells potential cannot take place. > > > >According to a recent CNN report more than 200,000 births > >have taken place by using in vitro fertilization. This has > >given many couples much joy. Depriving them of that right to > >life seems morally wrong. Depriving those who are fallen to > >disease of a chance to be cured seems equally wrong. > > > >Please call the White House and share your views with the > >President. The phone number is 212-456-1414. > > > >Bob Martone > >[log in to unmask] > >http://www.samlink.com/~bmartone > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > Camilla Flintermann, former CG for Peter 83/70/55 > Oxford, Ohio > <[log in to unmask]> > > on the web at http://www.geocities.com/camillahf/index.html > and also at http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/genugten/flinterm.htm > > "Ask me about the CARE list for Caregivers of Parkinsonians ! " > And visit the CARE webring at http://www.pdcaregiver.org > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn