I need documentation for the following letter to the editor, which has
been accepted for publication if I can provide documentation for each
point. Here is the letter: titled BUSH ASSAULT ON STEM CELLS "Is it
any wonder that so few scientists are applying for embryonic stem cell
research grants?They do not want to risk their careers, their
fortunes, or their freedom.
Since his tenure began, President Bush has systematically attacked
stem cell research. Even his alleged "compromise" of a few stem cell
lines is almost completely valueless; these can never be used for
human therapies, being contaminated with rat feeder cells.
Mr. Bush supports legislation to criminalize the therapeutic cloning
needed to individualize stem cells for cure. He seeks jail sentences
of ten years for scientists, doctors, patients or parents who partake
in any form of that research. Additionally, he has: pushed for a
United Nations ban; supported a law (sneaked into an appropriations
bill, denying debate) to remove the financial incentive by blocking
patents on "human organisms"; shut off NIH funds for nuclear transfer
research; established a stacked-deck bioethics committee to echo his
opinions, and spread misinformation galore.
His statement that "we recoil from using young humans as a source of
spare parts" would be ludicrous if it were not so damaging. Not one
scientist has suggested anything remotely like that gruesome fantasy.
Microscopic stem cells are no more a "young human" than a blood
sample, or the hairs on our head, all of which contain the DNA blue
print of our bodies.
As a father of a paralyzed young man, I consider Mr. Bush's relentless
assault on stem cells to be a disservice to this nation. |
Request for Question Clarification by
knowledge_seeker-ga
on
13 Mar 2004 07:28 PST
Hi there diverdon!
Great to see you back to Google Answers, and am extremely glad to see
you're still waging the battle for stem cell research. I don't have
any time to work on your question, so hopefully someone else will pick
up the ball and run with it. Meanwhile, here's a link to the text of
:
H. R. 534 - IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
`Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003'.
http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:4:./temp/~c108C7j9Qw::
For the sake of accuracy in your letter, note that the Bill states the
penalty to be "fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10
years, or both."
"not more" being the operative term. A sentence may well be less than 10 years.
Your letter contains many statements that may or may not need
supporting documentation. It might help researchers if you would
itemize exactly which facts you'd like corroborated. For example, you
quote Bush in your last paragraph. Do you need a source for that
quote? Do you need documentation showing that Bush has "systematically
attacked" stem cell research? If so, how much? Do you need proof that
"a few stem cell lines is almost completely valueless" -- that they
can't be used?
When I read your question, I'm not clear on just which points you need
documentation to support. I think researchers are going to need a bit
more guidance here before anyone can provide you with a good solid
answer.
Hope that helps ..
-K~
|
Clarification of Question by
diverdonreed-ga
on
13 Mar 2004 17:15 PST
Thanks for the suggestions. BTW I have passed one research law, helped
to pass three more, and am working on several right now.
It is actually the same question I asked earlier yesterday (and paid
$50 for, plus $5 tip) but there I went too specific and got mainly
quotes from Bush. This time around, I would like backup articles or
citations for:
NOTE: number two is the most important.
1. that the Bush-approved stem cell lines are fed on rat feeder layers
and are therefore illegal under FDA regulations for animal/human use--
plus the very real possibility there may be rodent viruses. (I have
some stuff for this, more would be nice)
2. I need as many examples as possible showing how Bush's stringent
regulations are holding back the research.
3. reinacting the Dickey-Wicker Act makes the NIH unable to fund
somatic cell nuclear transfer (therapeutic cloning) research.
thanks for the great suggestions!
|
