Stem-cell research touted

WASHINGTON — When Ken White embarked upon a career as a Utah State University scientist, he had no idea he would find himself at the point where science, religion and politics collide.

But that's exactly where White, one of the nation's foremost experts on cloning — he has cloned 23 animals, including the first mule — finds himself as the national debate over stem-cell research rages unabated.

"It's important we have this discussion from a scientific perspective," said White, who lectured Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on the benefits of stem-cell research. "My responsibility is to educate people on the facts, and I believe a public discussion will lead to political change."

White is convinced if reasonable people will sit down calmly with all the facts that stem-cell research would enjoy widespread public support.

"I give Sen. (Orrin) Hatch a lot of credit," he said. "He sat down with all the facts and came to the conclusion it is something that warrants further attention."

"It is not a decision to be made lightly," he added, "but it is one to be made factually, one evaluated on real science."

The stem-cell debate was center stage throughout the presidential election. Democratic nominee John Kerry favored the research, invoking the name of the late Christopher Reeve as one argument for accelerating stem-cell research.

Acquiescing to pressure from religious groups who believe that scientific use of embryonic stem cells is immoral, President Bush had earlier prohibited federal funding for stem-cell research on all but 22 lines of existing cells.

That limitation has stymied the nation's best scientists, who say the 22 lines available to them are insufficient and in some cases unusable. And the result, White said, is that scientists in Europe and Southeast Asia are poised to "leave us behind."

"U.S. policy does not prohibit the research, but it limits us to private sources, either large businesses or foundations," White said. "Or we can do what California did."

California voters, led by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, approved a $3 billion research effort considered to be the most aggressive effort to date to research embryonic stem cells.

Much of White's lecture was devoted to explaining the nuances of stem-cell research and discussing the potential to cure life-threatening diseases, reduce environmental impact and improve food sources.