June 20, 2006

A Preview of the Politics and Bioethics Conference?

Jonathan Moreno and Sam Berger square off against Eric Cohen on the question of facts about stem cell lines, disputing in particular Cohen's reading of several studies that bear on those facts. Alta calls it a smack down, but for National Review this is actually pretty tame, and the ultimate question as to whether federal policy on this matter would make any difference at all remains unanswered in the debate about whether Okarma or Thomson believe that the Bush cells are contaminated beyond use. Seriously, does it matter? The moral argument that led to limiting research to these particular cell lines is silly, and more important the availability of more cell lines from the federal government will happen when pigs fly.

Want new cell lines? Go to Massachusetts.

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