Posted on 10/26/2004 10:56:04 AM PDT by unlearner
Confusion and distortion of the Embryonic Stem Cell Debate.
Dear Sirs.
I am a senior research scientist and physician who is a tenured Professor at the University of Pittsburgh who has given major presentations on stem cell research and cloning. I can give you volumes of details, but think that it is important to pass on these points to the people helping develop the Republican response strategy.
1) Human embryonic stem sells are WORSE than adult stem cells a. They must be differentiated before they are of any clinical value (e.g. forced to move toward adult stem cells). IF this is not done the cells will act like a cancer (teratoma) b. Stem cells from a donor (including embryos) will be recognized as an invader by the recipients immune system an be wiped out unless the recipients immune system is suppressed (as after an organ transplant)
2) Adult human stem cells are BETTER than previously thought a. They can be transdifferentated (e.g. liver stem cells can be used to make pancreatic cells to fight diabetes), and are much more flexible than was previously assumed. b. There is not problem with tissue rejection
3) Limitations: a. We do not know the best source of adult stem cells for each problem (e.g. bone marrow vs. liver, etc) b. Human embryonic stem cell collection requires the destruction of a human embryo – which raises MORAL issues (fundamental principles of right and wrong conduct that are not based on laws or customs) c. Ethics (which govern rules of conduct that govern a particular class of human actions) is of limited value in this debate because there is no consensus on the “rules”
The president should consider the following position: 1) Stem cell research offers major hope 2) Medical Research must be strongly supported 3) A persons own bone marrow or liver stem cells offer all of the advantages of embryonic stem cells but do not require the death of a human embryo and do not require life-long concerns of tissue rejection and need for immune system suppression. 4) The charges of the Kerry campaign are misguided, distorted and politically motivated. They are NOT based on the best interest of either the recipient or the donor.
I would be happy to provide more information, send you a major presentation that has been presented to physicians and scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins, etc, or could correspond by email or phone.
Glad to help in any way that I can
David C Whitcomb MD PhD FACP FACG Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology & Physiology, and Human Genetics Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh
412 648 9604 whitcomb@pitt.edu whitcomb@pancreas.org
David C Whitcomb MD PhD Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology & Physiology, and Human Genetics Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 412 648 9604; Fax 412 383 7236
From: "Whitcomb, David C" Stem Cell Research
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