2006-11-07 O Brave New World, please come to pass

2006-11-07 PZ Myers Pharyngula \stem cell research\pro-life\religion vs. science\personhood http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/11/o_brave_new_world_please_come.php O Brave New World, please come to pass &ldquo;When we can make human embryos from a white blood cell extracted from a popped pimple, the whole "but it's a potential life" argument acquires a new and interesting dimension, don't you think?&rdquo;  After considering the ethics of this experiment and the consequences of the work if it panned out (really, step 4 is hard, with a low probability of success, although I also think that a lot of work will eventually make it possible), I have a more nuanced and thorough response: we are ethically, morally, and scientifically required to carry out this research and make it work.

There are good reasons for supporting it. One is on general principles: I think scientists are obligated to push hard at the frontiers of knowledge, and that sometimes means edging way past what Joe Sixpack finds comfortable. If we were to start curbing ourselves, the bioethicists would have nothing to do, after all—a good debate has to have someone pushing and someone pulling, and if both are pulling back, it's no fun at all.

Another is that I think it highlights beautifully the silliness of the Sacred Zygote position. When we can make human embryos from a white blood cell extracted from a popped pimple, the whole "but it's a potential life" argument acquires a new and interesting dimension, don't you think? I'm all for making the sanctimonious apologists for Soul Magic bleat.

In fact, I want to go further than these scientists propose. In other words, what do you do when any human cell is a "potential life"? Are you obligated to see it through to completion?   