Today I was lucky enough to sit in on the live broadcast of NPR's Science Friday. It was two shows (two hours each). The first hour was devoted to Cambridge Science Week and had panelists discussing recycling and green efforts in the city of Cambridge.
The second hour was completely fascinating. It was all about stem cell research. I have read a lot about this subject but it was great to hear even further explanation about how it's done and what the potential could be with further research.
I know that stem cell research is one of those hot button issues like abortion that just gets people all wound up. I have a very scientific mind and am a firm supporter of this research. I do understand the "life begins at conception" people and why they would have this belief. One gentleman who called in was completely in this camp. When one of the panelists was playing devil's advocate and asking this man if there was a fertility clinic on fire and there was a six year old girl or a tray with twenty frozen embryos and he could only save one, which would he save? This man hemmed and hawed and finally said that if he was a firefighter he would save whoever was closest to the door! I asked my dad, a retired firefighter of twenty five years, which he would do and the answer was clearly the little girl.
I respect the caller's right to his own opinion but it annoys me to no end when people bullishly insist on their belief as being the correct one but can't back it up. Stem cell research is very subjective. It's easy to say it is wrong until it is your child with diabetes. Or mother with Parkinson's. Or husband with Alzheimer's.
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