COMMENTARY

Post Date: November 05, 2004

Dear Newsweek

by John F. Kilner, Ph.D.

Thank you for devoting a cover story to the crucial topic of stem cell research in your October 25 issue. Since the debate is over whether to put all our efforts into adult stem cell research or to divert some of these resources to embryonic stem cell research, it is surprising that the article hardly even mentions adult stem cells!

Adult stem cell research has a broad, solid base of success. Patients suffering from a whole host of afflictions—including (but not limited to) Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune diseases, stroke, anemia, cancer, immunodeficiency, corneal damage, blood and liver diseases, heart attack, and diabetes—are already reaping health improvements following treatments with adult stem cells. Human embryonic stem cell research to date has yielded no such benefits.

Recent experimental results have repeatedly demonstrated that adult stem cells are able to differentiate into multiple cell types—the very ability that supporters of embryonic stem cell research mistakenly claim is unique to embryonic stem cells. Moreover, research on embryonic stem cells has revealed significant and sometimes startling obstacles to their use—including tumor formation, unstable gene expression, and an inability to stimulate the cells to form the desired type of tissue.

There are ethical alternatives for achieving the benefits that are purported for embryonic stem cell research, and they should be actively pursued instead. If we care about people suffering right now, Christopher Reeve’s death is a wake-up call to pour all possible resources into adult stem cell research, which is producing cures now. CBHD

John F. Kilner, Ph.D. is Senior Scholar for The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity and Franklin Forman Chair of Ethics at Trinity International University, both in Deerfield, IL.

Copyright 2004 by The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity

The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CBHD, its staff, board or supporters. Permission to reprint granted as long as The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and the web address for this article is referenced.