Letter: Adult stem cell research has been very effective

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | 8:49 a.m.

Regarding Martin Schram's May 20 column in the Sun, "Nancy Reagan ardent about stem cell research":

Let's get our scientific terms straightened out. "Stem cell research" is a broad category, which includes both adult and embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cell research involves the creation of human beings for the purpose of killing them in order to get their stem cells. To date, the treatments coming about from this approach have been disastrous to the point of causing agonizing deaths for the recipients, not to mention the embryos.

Adult stem cells are obtained from such things as bone marrow, skin and cord blood, which are then regressed back to stem cells in the laboratory before being used for treatment. There have been outstanding results from this method to date. It has successfully treated juvenile diabetes and spinal cord injuries as well as cardiac repair and more.

To continue pushing for embryonic stem cell research, because some scientists think it might turn out to work better than adult stem cell research, is to pour money down the drain instead of investing it where the proven results exist. Already other countries have advanced farther than we have because of their emphasis on adult stem cell research. Even better, adult stem cell research promotes and protects life.

MARIE JONES