IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER
Shanghai scientists create 400 human-rabbit hybrids
If the results are verified, the controversial experiment marks a significant advance in cloning technology. First, it shows that it is possible to "reprogram" already developed adult cells so that they revert to stem cells which are capable of forming any cell in the body. Some stem cell scientists describe this as the "holy grail" of their specialty.
Second, it shows that hybrid species are possible. Hitherto, efforts to cross humans with other species have failed because mitochondrial DNA in the animal egg cell reacts negatively with human DNA. Finally, it implies that commercial "therapeutic cloning" could become possible since hard-to-obtain human eggs will no longer be needed for the production of embryonic stem cells.
Many scientists are sceptical of Dr Sheng's results. The US-trained scientist's paper was peer-reviewed, but it was published in the obscure Chinese journal Cell Research after having been rejected by better known journals such as Nature and Science. Furthermore, she did not provide sufficient proof that her team had extracted true embryonic stem cells which can divide and multiply indefinitely.
None of the cloning experts interviewed by various newspapers expressed ethical reservations. On the contrary, Robin Lovell-Badge, of the UK's National Institute for Medical Research, said that he was impressed. Harvard University cloning expert Douglas Melton said, "I'm glad to see it published as it will encourage others to try it." American bioethics expert R. Alta Charo, of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, says that she couldn't see any harm in the experiment, provided that the embryos were not implanted in a woman's body. ~ Nature, Aug 14; Financial Times, Aug 14; Washington Post, Aug 14; UPI, Aug 15; Asian Wall Street Journal, Aug 15 Bush meddling in science, say critics
Amongst the purported abuses are altering performance indicators to boost the effectiveness of federally-funded "abstinence only" sex education; changing a National Cancer Institute web site to imply that there was solid evidence linking abortions to breast cancer; deleting information on how to use a condom from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site; and stacking key scientific advisory committees. ~ Washington Post, Aug 8 Half of ethics board members in US have industry ties
The authors of the study commented that this situation could lead to non-financial conflicts of interest, such as blocking studies of other researchers or not blocking studies which could be important in their own research. ~ Massachusetts General Hospital press release, Aug 14 Spotlight on dodgy scientific papers
The "peer-review" system is supposed to ensure that the methodology of scientific studies is sound and that data interpretation is reasonable. But there are concerns that some journals publish research to grab headlines. "I worry it has gone to tabloid newspaper-like battles about silly things rather than focussing on the deeper issues of the science and the real benefits of what it all means," Professor Robin Lovell-Badge told the BBC. Last year he resigned from the editorial board of an American on-line journal over a shoddy paper on cloning. ~ BBC, Aug 10 Artificial wombs could undermine abortion rights
At the other end of pregnancy, Dr Thomas Schaffer, of Temple University, has developed an artificial amniotic fluid made of perfluorocarbons -- liquids which can carry more oxygen than air -- To help premature infants. It has been successfully tried on goat foetuses. In Japan, Dr Yoshinori Kuwabara, of Juntendo University, has already created an artificial womb from which he has delivered goats after only three weeks of gestation -- the equivalent of a human trimester. He predicts that a fully functioning "ectogenetic chamber" could be ready within five years.
Ms Zimmerman complains that while pro-choice advocates have sleepily ignored this threat to their agenda, their opponents have not. Dr Bernard Nathanson, the former abortionist turned anti-abortion campaigner, says that if a foetus is viable from 10 weeks, "you've destroyed Roe v. Wade". One radical feminist, Christine Overall, has answered the challenge by redefining abortion. She claims that abortion is the right to the "extinction" of the foetus, not simply its extraction. ~ New Republic, Aug 18 Medical errors kill one Victorian a week
The federal vice-president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, pointed out that the errors were minuscule in proportion to the number of people treated. "We are at the safest time in history to be in hospital and have procedures done," he said, "but there's always room for improvement." ~ Age, Aug 12 Lesbian motherhood flourishing in Melbourne
US doctors to squeeze every chance to harvest organs
"It's a game of small numbers and every opportunity needs to be maximised," said Ellen Sheehy, of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. ~ AP, Aug 13 Adult stem cells heal damaged hearts
However, the encouraging results do not mean that cures are around the corner. Scientists do not know how stem cells heal the heart. They may give rise to new muscle cells, fuse with existing cells or simply encourage the existing cells to repair themselves. "One needs to be enthusiastic but sceptical," says Charles Murry, of the University of Washington in Seattle. There is always that danger that "untamed" stem cells could cause tumours. ~ Nature Science Update, Aug 11 First UK stem cell line created
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Australasian Bioethics Information
ISSN 1446-2117
Website:www.australasianbioethics.org
Director: Dr Amin Abboud
Editor: Michael Cook
New Zealand Associate: Carolyn Moynihan