Stem-cell Research

Here's a letter to the editor addressed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from my brother, which will likely never see the light of day (other than in this venue).

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution P. O. Box 4689 Atlanta, GA 30302 To the Editor: The recent letters from readers comparing stem cell research to Edison's discovery of the light bulb, the Wright Brothers' invention of the airplane, and Ted Hoff's development of the microprocessor miss the point. The issue is not whether stem cell research should take place, but rather the extent to which such research should be funded by the federal government. There currently are no restrictions on privately funded embryonic stem cell research, and universities, including Harvard and Stanford, have set up their own privately funded stem cell research centers. Importantly, the light bulb, the airplane, and the microprocessor were all pioneered with private funds, not federal tax dollars. Bennett L. Ross