Clone the Truth #2

Here are a couple for the Clone the Truth Campaign

1.  http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/01/06/43bdfda8e34e3

Please let this author and her readers know of her error by posting a comment to this article.  Unfortunately her e-mail is not available.

Here is the comment I submitted (let us see if they post it):

I want to correct an error in this article.  The author writes, "Successful cloning of stem cells would offer the scientific community the means for possibly curing various diseases and disabilities." 

Researchers don't clone stem cells,  they clone EMBRYOS which are destroyed to harvest stem cells.

Please refer to the following tutorial from Princeton's Molecular Biology Department

http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/courses/mb427/2001/projects/09/transfertutorial.htm

2.  http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?WCD=80398

Here is my letter to the author:

Dear Mr. Hawes,

I am writing to inform you of an error in your article titled "Survey: Most Texans back stem cell research" dated 1/6/06 in the Galveston County Daily News.

You wrote, "The survey taken in October found that 59 percent of respondents approved of scientists receiving federal money for extracting embryonic stem cells from fertilized eggs donated by fertility clinics."

Actually, embryonic stem cells are taken from EMBRYOS not "fertilized eggs."  These embryos are usually 5 to 7 days old when they are destroyed for their stem cells and are no longer anything like a "fertilized egg."

For Texans to make decisions on these issues, they need to be properly informed.  That requires using the proper terminology.  Therefore I ask that you print a correction.

Sincerely, Rebecca Taylor