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Who do we contact to "vote" for stem cell research? Our congressman? Anyone or group online? Thank you, Judith, for this & your "mammogram/PD" contributions. Both are helpful to me. Mary Legan 56/6+ judith richards wrote: > July 2, 1999 > > U.S. Coalition Opposes Stem Cell Research > By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent > > WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A coalition of religious experts, doctors, scientists > and politicians spoke out against stem cell research Thursday, saying it was > unethical and scientifically questionable. > > They called on Congress to maintain legislation outlawing the use of human > embryos -- which other scientists say may be the best source of stem cells, > the so-called nursery or master cells that give rise to other types of cells > in the body. > > ``We believe that research being proposed by the National Institutes of > Health (NIH) on human embryonic stem cells is immoral, illegal and > unnecessary,'' Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback told a news conference. > > Research in the past year has found that stem cells might be used to treat > Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes and other diseases and could provide tissue > for transplants and tests. The cells come from embryos and tissues of the > body and blood. > > The embryonic stem cells are ``pluripotent'' -- they can develop into any > kind of cell in the body. Embryos used are from miscarriages or abortions, > or are left over from attempts at making test-tube babies. > > At least one company, California-based Geron Corp (Nasdaq:GERN - news), > proposes cloning human embryos as sources of stem cells. > > The National Bioethics Advisory Commission says this research holds so much > promise that Congress should lift part of its ban on using federal money for > research on embryonic stem cells. > > But the opposing coalition called the idea distasteful and disturbing. > > ``The work begins with the destruction of a living being,'' Dr. Frank Young, > a former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and an > ordained evangelical minister, told the news conference. > > ``Moreover, destruction of human embryonic life is unnecessary for medical > progress, as alternative methods of obtaining human stem cells and of > repairing and regenerating human tissue exist and continue to be > developed,'' the group, sponsored by the Center for Bioethics and Human > Dignity in Bannockburn, Illinois, said in a statement. > > Signatories included former surgeon-general Dr. C. Everett Koop, Samuel > Casey, executive director of the Christian Legal Society, and Richard > Doerflinger of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. > > U.S. law bans the use of public funds to pay for research that damages or > manipulates live human embryos, and prohibits the use of federal funds to > create human embryos solely for research. Most recent work showing the > potential of stem cells has been funded by private firms. > > A new lobbying group, the Patients' Coalition for Urgent Research (CURE), in > May released a survey of 1,000 adults that showed 74 percent supported human > stem cell research, even when the cells came from embryos. > > But groups like Brownback's say there are better sources for stem cells than > embryos, and cite research showing the cells can be taken from blood, the > brain and other sources. > > In May scientists at the University of Pittsburgh said bone marrow cells > transplanted into rats migrated to their livers and helped repair them, and > in March a group at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Pasadena, > California, said it had found and grown stem cells from living nerve tissue. > > Other researchers, like John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University in > Baltimore, say scientists have to investigate all sources of stem cells. > > They note that embryonic stem cells automatically have the ability to become > any type of cell in the body, while other types, such as blood stem cells, > have restricted functions and must be manipulated to create muscle or nerve > tissue. > > ``At this stage all avenues of scientific inquiry must remain open,'' > Patient's CURE said in a statement Thursday. ''Only embryonic stem cells, > with their capacity to become any kind of human tissue, have the potential > to repair all vital organs.'' > > Copyright © 1999 Reuters Limited.