I need help with my college newspaper column on stem cell research..

[Moloch]

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction about stem cell research. I write the left wing column for the college newspaper of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette.. I must admit.. I know nothing about the topic except that it has the potential to cure many diseases and Shrub banned federal funding of it because of his opposition to abortion? It seems like such a broad topic.. and I really have no idea where to start researching for it.

I would like to know especially where Democrats stand on the issue and what they plan to do about it once we are back in power in 2006 and 2008.

Thanks for any help you guys can give me!

[Lucky Luciano]

1. Well, I am no expert, but you will need to include this:

[Moloch]

2. hehe

thanks
I needed a laugh tonight.

[dsc]

3. In fairness Bush didn't ban federal funding of it

He restricted it to cell lines which existed prior to his announcement, and then had his Health and Human Services Secretary lie about the number of those lines. As to the Democratic position on this I would try the Democrats website as a good first source.

[fishnfla]

4. for starters

1. Make sure you differentiate between embryonic stem cells (from the zygote=where all the controversy is) and adult stem cells (which are being used in therapy now, not contoversial) and stem cells drawn from the umbilical cord. Adult stem cell therapy has been proven to work. I know they are doing stem cell implants and corneal implants to make blind eyes see

2. The dems position on the issue is evolving, recently it was considered too much of a hot topic, only very recently with the S Korean research, and public opinion has the issue been pushed, even among Repugs. Its a growing chorus/bandwagon as new studies come out

3. The stem cell lines that Bush approved, 60-some, only about half have proven viable to use. Scientists estimate that 600 or more stem cell lines are needed for decent research and funding is needed as well. Some states are pursuing research on their own as well as private companies.

4. The recent S Korean findings are important because they can match tissue DNA

5. The main issue now for those who are sick with chronic uncurable diseases is that stem cell research offers AT LEAST hope for a cure. The Repugs say it is false hope, but for someone who is sick without a chance, they'll take any hope, Bush wants to deny them even that.

[Jim Lane]

5. Background information

Some information about stem cells, touching on the controversy but emphasizing the scientific information, is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell

That article includes links you might find worth following. One of them is a USA Today article reporting that Louisiana is one of only eight states that ban or limit such research: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-12-16-stem-cells-usat_x.htm

As for the Democrats, the 2000 and 2004 platforms supported stem cell research, according to this article: http://www.newsbatch.com/stemcells.htm I don't know whether we'll have to wait until 2006 or 2008, though. Arlen Specter said last month that supporters of stem cell research could muster the 60 votes in the Senate to break a conservative filibuster of a bill, and might have the 67 to override a Bush veto: http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2005/05/26/senators_call_for_a_vote_on_stem_cells/