Stem Cell Sales Tactics
Commenting on California’s Prop 71 to fund stem cell research, my blogging colleague David Appell makes an excellent point about stem cells and Alzheimer’s, but he may be overstating the case a bit. An increasingly frequent–and legitimate–criticism of proponents of embryonic stem cell research is their tendency to link the cells with a treatment for Alzheimer’s (and tie such research to a legacy for President Reagan). However, as researchers point out, even if stem cells do not pan out as a therapy for Alzheimer’s, studies using the cells will still help patients by increasing our understanding of the disease. Such research could even lead to a new drug or other treatment that doesn’t use ES cells.
Singling out the tenuous Alzheimer’s link as a tactic being used to “sell” California voters on stem cells strikes me as a bit disingenuous. As David notes, there are at least 70 diseases, many of them common, such as diabetes and heart disease, that might be treated with stem cells. And there are countless others, such as Alzheimer’s and almost any form of cancer, that could be better understood through research using embryonic stem cells (as well as adult stem cells). It is indeed better to be up front with voters–about both the limits and the incredible potential of research on all types of stem cells.
Keep Reading
Most Popular

The dark secret behind those cute AI-generated animal images
Google Brain has revealed its own image-making AI, called Imagen. But don't expect to see anything that isn't wholesome.

Inside Charm Industrial’s big bet on corn stalks for carbon removal
The startup used plant matter and bio-oil to sequester thousands of tons of carbon. The question now is how reliable, scalable, and economical this approach will prove.

The hype around DeepMind’s new AI model misses what’s actually cool about it
Some worry that the chatter about these tools is doing the whole field a disservice.

How Charm Industrial hopes to use crops to cut steel emissions
The startup believes its bio-oil, once converted into syngas, could help clean up the dirtiest industrial sector.
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.