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| News Capsules - March-April, 2008 issue - Page 2 |
Human-Animal Hybrids
OK in the UK
Regulators from U.K.’s Human
Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority gave the go-ahead
Sept. 5 that allows British
scientists to create human-animal
embryos, sometimes known as
hybrids or chimeras. The
experimentation permits the fusing
of human cells with animal eggs to
develop embryonic stem cells for
research purposes. British fertility
experts downplay concerns raised
by right-to-life advocates that the
mixture of human and animal
materials is ethically repugnant
and unlikely to show practical
value—Clearly Caring (November-
December, 2007)
Foods From Cloned
Animals OK in the USA
Foods from healthy cloned
animals and their offspring are
safe, the Food and Drug
Administration has reported.
Aware that a majority of
consumers are wary of food from
clones, the agency included
hundreds of pages of raw data in
a 968-page “final risk
assessment” so people could see
how it arrived at its conclusions.
The FDA noted that “moral,
religious and ethical concerns
have been raised,” and it said its
report was strictly a “science-
based evaluation.”—Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel (1/15/08)
OK in the UK
Regulators from U.K.’s Human
Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority gave the go-ahead
Sept. 5 that allows British
scientists to create human-animal
embryos, sometimes known as
hybrids or chimeras. The
experimentation permits the fusing
of human cells with animal eggs to
develop embryonic stem cells for
research purposes. British fertility
experts downplay concerns raised
by right-to-life advocates that the
mixture of human and animal
materials is ethically repugnant
and unlikely to show practical
value—Clearly Caring (November-
December, 2007)
Foods From Cloned
Animals OK in the USA
Foods from healthy cloned
animals and their offspring are
safe, the Food and Drug
Administration has reported.
Aware that a majority of
consumers are wary of food from
clones, the agency included
hundreds of pages of raw data in
a 968-page “final risk
assessment” so people could see
how it arrived at its conclusions.
The FDA noted that “moral,
religious and ethical concerns
have been raised,” and it said its
report was strictly a “science-
based evaluation.”—Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel (1/15/08)
Young Adults Oppose
Abortion and More
A newly-released Harris Poll finds
that young adults are most likely
to oppose abortion, embryonic
stem cell research, and assisted
suicide. The August survey
fielded opinions on eight issues of
interest to the pro-life community.
Adults in the 18 to 30 year range
(so called “echo boomers”) stated
they opposed abortion, assisted
suicide, and embryonic stem cell
research by a wider margin than
the other sub-groups.—Clearly
Caring (November/December,
2007)
Obtaining Stem Cells
From Human Egg Cells
Researchers in Russia and the U.
S. have created stem cells that
look and act like embryonic stem
cells but which are obtained from
human egg cells rather than from
embryos. Researchers in
California hope to create a bank
of tissue-matched stem cells that
could be used on specific patients
that the patients’ immune systems
would accept. “The process is
efficient, it is relatively safe and it
is ethically sound,” said a
spokesman.—news.yahoo. com
(12/20/07)
New Stamp Approved
Despite Error
The Postal Service is going ahead
with plans for a commemorative
stamp honoring biochemist Gerty
Cori despite an error on the
stamp. Cori discovered cori ester,
a derivative of glucose, but what
was supposed to be the formula
for the chemical printed on the
stamp had a line misplaced. The
Cori stamp is among a set of four
honoring American scientists.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(1/16/08)
Abortion and More
A newly-released Harris Poll finds
that young adults are most likely
to oppose abortion, embryonic
stem cell research, and assisted
suicide. The August survey
fielded opinions on eight issues of
interest to the pro-life community.
Adults in the 18 to 30 year range
(so called “echo boomers”) stated
they opposed abortion, assisted
suicide, and embryonic stem cell
research by a wider margin than
the other sub-groups.—Clearly
Caring (November/December,
2007)
Obtaining Stem Cells
From Human Egg Cells
Researchers in Russia and the U.
S. have created stem cells that
look and act like embryonic stem
cells but which are obtained from
human egg cells rather than from
embryos. Researchers in
California hope to create a bank
of tissue-matched stem cells that
could be used on specific patients
that the patients’ immune systems
would accept. “The process is
efficient, it is relatively safe and it
is ethically sound,” said a
spokesman.—news.yahoo. com
(12/20/07)
New Stamp Approved
Despite Error
The Postal Service is going ahead
with plans for a commemorative
stamp honoring biochemist Gerty
Cori despite an error on the
stamp. Cori discovered cori ester,
a derivative of glucose, but what
was supposed to be the formula
for the chemical printed on the
stamp had a line misplaced. The
Cori stamp is among a set of four
honoring American scientists.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(1/16/08)
Flu Vaccine Needles
May Be Eliminated
The flu vaccine needle may soon
be replaced by a drop of the
vaccine placed under the tongue.
South Korean researchers say
the new procedure and vaccine
worked in mice, and they are
turning their attention now to
people. Placing drops of the liquid
under the tongue gets the vaccine
directly to mucus membranes and
prompts responses in mucus
tissues throughout the body and
in the immune system itself.—
(Racine) Journal Times (1/29/08)
Multivitamins Help
Depression in Elderly
Elderly patients faced with
depression can benefit from using
multivitamin/mineral pills. An
international study showed that
acutely ill, older medical patients
improved with the supplements
compared with those who took
placebos. Symptoms of
depression include sleep
problems, loss of appetite,
fatigue, and feelings of
worthlessness.—USA Weekend
(11/30/07)
Urge Screening of ALL
Children by Age 2
A leading group of pediatricians is
urging that all children be
screened for autism twice by the
age of 2. The advice by the
American Academy of Pediatrics
is meant to help both parents and
doctors spot autism sooner, which
if treated early could lessen its
severity. Early signs of possible
autism include babies not
babbling at 9 months, 1-year-olds
who don’t point at toys and 4-
month-olds never smiling. One in
150 U.S. children are autistic.—
(Racine) Journal Times (10/29/07)
May Be Eliminated
The flu vaccine needle may soon
be replaced by a drop of the
vaccine placed under the tongue.
South Korean researchers say
the new procedure and vaccine
worked in mice, and they are
turning their attention now to
people. Placing drops of the liquid
under the tongue gets the vaccine
directly to mucus membranes and
prompts responses in mucus
tissues throughout the body and
in the immune system itself.—
(Racine) Journal Times (1/29/08)
Multivitamins Help
Depression in Elderly
Elderly patients faced with
depression can benefit from using
multivitamin/mineral pills. An
international study showed that
acutely ill, older medical patients
improved with the supplements
compared with those who took
placebos. Symptoms of
depression include sleep
problems, loss of appetite,
fatigue, and feelings of
worthlessness.—USA Weekend
(11/30/07)
Urge Screening of ALL
Children by Age 2
A leading group of pediatricians is
urging that all children be
screened for autism twice by the
age of 2. The advice by the
American Academy of Pediatrics
is meant to help both parents and
doctors spot autism sooner, which
if treated early could lessen its
severity. Early signs of possible
autism include babies not
babbling at 9 months, 1-year-olds
who don’t point at toys and 4-
month-olds never smiling. One in
150 U.S. children are autistic.—
(Racine) Journal Times (10/29/07)
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