Stem cell cartoon ignores scientific facts

It really bothers me when ignorant people try to make a statement about science, and last Friday's editorial cartoon was no exception. There are so many logical and factual problems with it that I'm having trouble deciding how to begin this letter.

First of all, adult stem cells haven't 'cured' anybody (save for rats and mice, maybe). Research shows that adult stem cells have the potential to successfully treat a handful of diseases, but that's research. Very few diseases are actually being treated in humans using human stem cells at this time. Secondly, one of the main reasons why embryonic stem cells are seeing relatively less success is because, oh, I don't know, their research has been banned for the past eight odd years in this country? Do you think that that could be a contributing factor?

The very subject matter of your cartoon, and the statement you're trying to make are completely at odds with one another. Lastly, I just want to say that I am happy for any success that scientists have with adult stem cells, and there will be many in the coming years, I'm sure. That doesn't erase the fact that most scientists who work with stem cells agree that embryonic stem cells have far more potential than adult ones--potential to treat a much larger number of diseases and the potential to even cure some of them. Not only that, but embryonic stem cell research can help us learn more about adult stem cells, so that we may use them more successfully.

I would advise you to pick up a science book, or go talk to a science professor next time you're thinking about commenting on the subject. For anyone else who still thinks a ball of cells (albeit human ones, but a ball of cells all the same) is more important than a current living human suffering from a chronic illness, have fun voting for Palin in 2012. As for me, I'm just glad that Bush's reign of intellectual starvation is finally over, and science can flourish once again.

Abigail Zofkie zofkieak@muohio. edu