Monday, January 10, 2005
Alternative embryonic stem cell techs are still flawed and immoral
His technique, called alternate nuclear transfer, involves turning off certain developmental genes and causing a nonfertilized egg to divide and multiply as it would if fertilized by human sperm.
What would be created wouldn't be a unique human being, but a nonhuman embryo from which stem cells could be extracted.
However, two leading Harvard University researchers who favor embryonic stem cell research call the proposal "scientifically flawed."
Writing in last week's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, Harvard biologist Douglas Melton said the Hurlbut's process would be virtually impossible to recreate.
''This would not only waste valuable time, but also precious resources," Melton wrote.
What would be created wouldn't be a unique human being, but a nonhuman embryo from which stem cells could be extracted.
However, two leading Harvard University researchers who favor embryonic stem cell research call the proposal "scientifically flawed."
Writing in last week's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, Harvard biologist Douglas Melton said the Hurlbut's process would be virtually impossible to recreate.
''This would not only waste valuable time, but also precious resources," Melton wrote.
