Opinions: combinations of facts and emotion

Last week's discussion of the "stem-cell" bill (H.B. 810) in the House of Representatives was filled with facts -- delivered in 1 and 2-minute pieces. Each speaker was trying to convince listeners that their opinion is the right one and they were using lots of numbers to try to do it. But, facts may change and emotions often stay the same. 

When I was a college student, Watson & Crick had just announced the structure of DNA and started what we called "the dogma": genetic instructions flow only from DNA to RNA to protein. Fact. Then, a graduate student with enough nerve to challenge the dogma found an enzyme now called reverse transcriptase and we discovered that the fact  had to be modified: RNA can give instructions for DNA. Facts change.

Last week, I was lucky enough to catch the last couple of hours of the debate on H.B. 810 and I listened to people's opinions as they called in during the 15-minute vote.  I learned that people have strong opinions -- as I expected; and, I was surprised to learn that both those who agreed with my opinion and those who don't spoke from a reasonable and factual basis. They knew what they were talking about and had used both fact and emotion to form their opinions.

As a geneticist, I am excited about the prospect of creating pancreatic cells that will make insulin; but, my experience and emotion make me wonder whether stem cells will be of similar value to someone whose diabetes results not from a lack of insulin, but from insulin resistance. Meanwhile, I gather and weigh the facts presently available so my opinion can be as informed as possible.

Marie Godfrey, PhD

Next blog: What are some of the questions we could ask about stem cells?