X-Message-Number: 23008
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 03:37:14 -0500
From: "Kevin Q. Brown" <>
Subject: Pet owners may save our lives

In the Dec 2003 / Jan 2004 issue of MIT's "Techology Review",
the page 18 article "Medicine Goes to the Dogs" by
Michael Schrage points out that restrictions against
stem cell, cloning, etc. research on humans do _not_ apply
to pets.  Furthermore, since there are plenty of pet lovers
who are willing to pay for sophisticated veterinary
treatments to save the lives of their dogs and cats,
we should expect significant advances in veterinary
biotech research using techniques not available to humans.
In particular, once stem cell therapy reliably saves the
lives of dogs and cats, it will be difficult to deny
such benefits to one's dying children.  His conclusion:

   "America's love affair with animals will slowly
   but inevitably undermine the religious, moral, and
   ethical arguments against genome-based therapies
   for people.  Healthier cats and dogs will generate
   an irrestible demand for healthier children and
   adults."

Or maybe I should say: "Don't look a gift horse in
the mouth".

     Kevin Q. Brown
     

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