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Thanks, Bob and Dolores, Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: rayilynlee To: Arizona Republic Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 9:26 AM Subject: RELIGIOUS AGENDA HIDES BEHIND ASCR LIES Dear Editor: 2nd try The current big push for adult stem cell research after 40 years is a ruse to promote a religious agenda. It is probably the only thing about ASCR that has been successful. Embryonic stem cell opponents rely upon bible-based Family Research Council's Dr. David Prentice's list of 72 ASC treatments for diseases to make their case. But in fact, there are only nine effective adult stem cell treatments for diseases, not 70 as Jennifer Clark of The Center for Arizona Policy claims. Three Scientists in the journal "Science" recently challenged Prentice's claims for ASCs: "Prentice not only misrepresents existing adult stem cell treatments but also frequently distorts the nature and content of the references he cites," wrote Shane Smith of the Children's Neurobiological Solutions Foundation in Santa Barbara, Calif.; William B. Neaves of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Mo.; and Steven Teitelbaum of Washington University in St. Louis." On this phoney cures list is Dennis Turner, who received his own brain cells to treat his Parkinson's disease. He enjoyed a 4-5 year reprieve from symptoms, but when I talked to him on 4-24-06 he confirmed that his PD had returned with a vengeance and that his Dr. Levesque's Phase II experiment was stalled. Senator Sam Brownback still used his photo on the Senate floor during the HR 810 debate this week. While nobody who supports embryonic stem cell research opposes adult stem cell research, we are hurt when non-scientists like Clark, who represent tax deductible religious based organizations such as The Center for Arizona Policy, insist upon misleading the public. If you think embryonic stem cell research is immoral it shouldn't matter which kind of stem cells are "better". We won't ever know what works for which disease unless the research is done. The general public may be fooled by James Dobson, David Prentice and Jennifer Clark, but patients and their families, patient advocacy groups, Nobel Laurettes and stem cell researchers are not. Religious ideology should not be allowed to trump science in a secular nation. Rayilyn Brown 18507 N. Windfall Dr. Surprise AZ 85374 623-584-5869 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn [log in to unmask]