White House shrugs off contanimation of stem cells

[Neil D]

WHITE HOUSE The White House is shrugging off a new study that suggests contamination of the existing lines of embryonic stem cells could bar their use in treating disease.

Press Secretary Scott McClellan says the president is satisfied those existing lines are "adequate" for the "basic research that needs to be done."

In 2001, Bush barred federal funding of experiments using new lines of human stem cells. He cited ethical concerns with harvesting those cells from destroyed embryos.

But yesterday, a University of California San Diego group cast new doubt on the existing lines, which were grown using tissues from mice and other animals. The group said its studies show animal contamination could provoke an immune reaction in humans.

McClellan says Bush knew about the issue in 2001, but agreed with the view of top government scientists that it wouldn't prevent research into potential breakthrough disease cures.

[Dr. Shane]

Note that Bush only barred federal funding for this research. If it contains so much promise private companies can still go ahead and do it on their own. With such large defecits I say we need to bar federal spending on a few more things too.

[bevin]

Unfortunately, because of the federal funding of university research, this is going to have an impact on the quality of education from those universities...

But you are right. SDA should be firmly in favor of spending $80B to continue the occupation of Iraq, to continue the revival of the opium industry in Afghanistan, and to start preparations to attack any other countries Bush needs to so he and his cronies can continue to loot the USA.

/Bevin