[MainFrame65]

And that is exactly what the President's decision provided for. Research using existing stem cells from previously destroyed embryos, that could never be restored to full viability but might teach us something about ourselves. But just as these sacrificed potential lives might serve to teach, they will never actually cure any of us of any disease, because each of them is an individual, just as you or I, and is incompatible with virtually every other human on the planet. We survive transfusions only because of the relative simplicity of the nucleus-free red blood cells.

Perhaps the problem of tissue rejection can be controlled, as with current transplant recipients, but there are many failures, and suppression of the immune system using drugs is a serious problem in itself.

So research with these few cell lines is appropriate, to learn about the nature of the tissue differentation processes. But to find therapies and treatments that will actually cure anyone, we ought to be looking where the real answers are likely to be found. And that will probably start in the patient's own body, with his own, more mature, somatic stem cells.

[Savage Beast]

Erythrocytes are highly antigenic. We survive blood transfusion now because of unimpeded research into the causes of transfusion reactions, primarily before 1950.

We will learn to reverse spinal chord injury paralysis et al. similarly through unimpeded research.

Drug suppression of the immune system is definitely a serious problem. Study and research may well provide more satisfactory solutions.

Evaluation of mature somatic stem-cells may yield results, but it may not. Bush's policy toward this enormously important research is far too restrictive (and this from one of Bush's strongest supporters).