Many religious conservatives, including President Bush, oppose the scientific use of embryonic stem cells because the cells often come from aborted fetuses.Right... Does a journalist have to be a science writer to check his facts? Here is the truth of the matter: Embryonic stem cells NEVER come from aborted fetuses. They are derived from 5-day old blastocysts generated in the context of in vitro fertilization clinics. This embryo has never been in the uterus, and is a ball of about 100 cells. A correct replacement sentence could be: Religious and other conservatives object to ES cell use because they cells taken from a structure that occurs 5 days after fertilization.
I wonder how widespread this misconception is.
2 comments:
Nice catch!
And, since you don't swear in print, allow me: what a load of crap.
Hell, we should make this a game.
"Many religious conservatives, including President Bush, oppose the HPV vaccine because the vaccine often comes from clubbed baby seals."
FYI, I emailed the author, the editor and posted a comment on the WaPo blog. As of 8/18 at noon, there has been no correction.
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