Ignorance and confusion

This morning’s Google Alerts included a very interesting article by Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D, MPH, founder and president of the American Council on Science and Health. She states,

…the passage of legislation to approve federal funding of ESC [embryo stem cell research] is still not certain, but nearly everyone hearing of the Frist move was either (a) very encouraged, envisioning the United States finally getting into the race to derive life-saving therapies using embryonic in addition to adult stem cells, or (b) very discouraged, proclaiming that even normally "pro-life" politicians are now succumbing to surging popular support for all forms of stem cell research.

Then she adds,

The reality is more complicated that this dichotomy of reaction suggests. Much more complicated.

The heart of her article follows:

The problem …is one of public confusion, incomplete information, and just plain ignorance about what stem cell research is, and what techniques are involved.

Members of the scientific community are partly to blame for this sorry state affairs and now run the risk of the public rejecting this line of research and the potential life-saving therapies it may produce -- all because the public may now feel "out of the loop" on what this research is really all about.

Trying to change that public confusion is what our Geneforum blog is all about. If you are reading this and feel uncomfortable posting a question or comment on the site, please write me directly at marie_godfrey_phd@myway.com and I’ll address your question without identifying you.

Marie Godfrey, PhD  <!--break-->