Stem cells

Michael Fumento on the somewhat curious fact that people are denigrating adult stem cell research and treatment in favor of embryonic stem cells.

Why is this curious? Well...

• Adult stem cells have been used therapeutically since 1968. Embryonic stem cells have not.
• There are 250 ongoing clinical trials with adult stem cells. There are zero with embryonic stem cells
• Research in adult stem cells is pretty well established. Adult stem cells have been researched for half a century. On the other hand, research on embryonic stem cells has only taken place for ... half a century.
• Adult stem cells can be made to differentiate into every type of tissue we might need, but we need to have several types on hand because not all types of stem cell will make all types of tissue. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have the ability to turn into any kind of tissue (except, apparently, placental tissue). Of course, they're so difficult to work with, no one's had much luck turning them into anything at all.

So why the push to spend money on embryonic stem cell research (which may never pan out) and ignore the adult stem cells that are already curing diseases?

Adult stem cells come from all over the body, plus umbilical cords and placentas. Embryonic stem cells come from pulling apart human embryos, and thus have aroused ethical concerns. The result, says Chris Mooney in the Washington Monthly, is that "conservatives have latched onto fringe science in order to advance moral arguments" by embracing adult stem cell research. We are presented with the illogical argument that since some people prefer adult stem cells for nonscientific reasons, they must have little scientific value.

...and...

Ironically, the original motivation for the massive disinformation campaign is precisely the relative scientific superiority of adult stem cells. Savvy venture capitalists have plowed their money into adult stem cell research and treatment, leaving embryonic stem cell researchers desperate to feed at the government trough. It is they and their supporters who have latched onto fringe science.

Follow the money.