Another Stem Cell Explainer

I just got back from a conservative blog that I respect, having read a post about the stem cell controversy.

This is a bit of a follow-up to last week's post. As the embryonic stem cell debate started raging, I noticed that some bloggers with traditional views kept emphasizing the value of adult stem cells (ASC), suggesting that ASC could be just as valuable as embryonic stem cells (ESC). I was perplexed by that. Then I learned that, according to some theological principles, in some circumstances it might be acceptable to bend the rules a little bit, so long as there was no other way to do the job. That assumes that the job to be done has some redeeming outcome. Thus, they would not be able to make as strong of an argument against ESC, unless they could show that the use of ASC could accomplish the same therapeutic purpose as could be derived from ESC. It occurs to me that it may be useful to explain why this is unlikely to be the case.  Continue reading here.