[concerned about politics]

Um, hate to argue, but it's more about the glory of lab scientists than anything else.

Nah. I think the lab scientists are just an extra extremity that grew out of the side of it. It's an excuse ( support population control and eternal health will be yours ), but, I agree that to the scientists - it is an extremely lucrative challenge.

[Desdemona]

I seriously think you underestimate the vanity and egocentrism of lab scientists. It's not pretty.