CGS

Time to Clean Up After Cloning Cattle

Tue, 17 Aug 2010

The USDA is still committed to promoting livestock cloning, but recent bad publicity makes it clear that the technology remains unpopular, unnecessary, and unethical.

Wise Words from a Comedic Critic

Wed, 14 Jul 2010

Sultan of satirical news, Stephen Colbert regularly calls attention to important biopolitical issues. Within many of his uproarious commentaries and interviews are meaningful insights.

The Presidential Commission Hears About Synthetic Biology

Wed, 14 Jul 2010

The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues hosted a series of panels to assess the risks and benefits of synthetic biology.

British group weighs paying organ donors

Mon, 19 Apr 2010

An influential British medical think tank is tackling the question of how far society should go to boost the number of organ and tissue donors, and is weighing a proposal to pay for body parts.

Surgeon General�s Warning: Gupta Is At It Again

Mon, 14 Dec 2009

Sanjay Gupta is taking his uncritical approach to biology and social outcomes to the realm of radical life extension.

Transhumanist libertarian: Still against democracy

Wed, 26 Aug 2009

Permeating libertarian Ron Bailey's response to CGS's Marcy Darnovsky is a disturbing hostility to democracy.

Public Opinion, Here and Abroad

Mon, 22 Dec 2008

In the last few days, two interesting public opinion polls on stem cell research, cloning, and related topics were released.

Couples in US Prefer to Donate Embryos for Research, Study Finds

Thu, 04 Dec 2008

The debate over embryonic stem cell research centres on the sanctity of life. But the couples who create the leftover embryos would rather they be destroyed in the course of scientific research than be given a chance at becoming babies.

The More Things Change...

Thu, 10 Jan 2008

The leading annual public opinion survey concerning biotechnology was recently released. But the deeper I dug into the data, the less relevance I found.

Food from Cloned Animals

Fri, 05 Oct 2007

Californians should be allowed to know what they're eating. That's why Gov. Schwarzenegger should sign SB63, requiring food from cloned animals to be labeled. But there are other reasons to go slow on this unproven technology.

Poll: Public understands less about research cloning

Wed, 27 Dec 2006

Public support in the US for embryonic stem cell research is on the decline, surprisingly, after four years of increases. But I don't think this, the top conclusion of the press release accompanying the latest annual Virginia Commonwealth UniversityLife Sciences Survey, is the most relevant inference from the results.

Support for stem-cell study falls, poll shows

Thu, 14 Dec 2006

"A new national poll conducted in the aftermath of actor Michael J. Fox�s televised appeals for stem-cell research shows that support for studying embryonic stem cells fell in the past year."

Spinning the Polls

Fri, 08 Dec 2006

Americans remain skeptical, at best, of biotechnology, especially when applied to animals. That's the lesson of the newly released 2006 Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology poll.

The Trouble with Tissues

Thu, 30 Nov 2006

It's not surprising that, according to a recent poll, people are concerned that personal tissue samples could be used for cloning, the derivation of stem cell lines, or the development profitable products without the donor sharing in the rewards.

Do stem cells work as a wedge?

Fri, 27 Oct 2006

Leading into the midterm elections, many saw support for stem cell research as a way for Democrats to peel off moderate Republicans and independents. The jury's still out, but some polls suggest this assumption is off base.