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
