Blog #8

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68Q4AS20100927

The Obama administration asked to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to continue.Deputy Assistant Attorney General Beth Brinkmann said that if they ceased funding it would be a ""setback for the field" and that biological material would be destroyed" at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.""

Some of the arguments the panel of judges made was that the funding would put scientists working with adult stem cells at a disadvantage and it goes against the constitution.

2. Explain what Constitutional concepts are relevant. Some may be obvious, but others maybe more subtly related. Explain the Constitutional connection in your own words, but also reference the specific Article & Section or Amendment(s).

Under amendment 14: "...nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due processof law" continuing the funding of embryonic research would deprive embryos the right to life, and would deprive scientists working with adult stem cells the right to property.

"The injunction on the funding came after a challenge by two researchers who work with adult stem cells and opposed embryonic stem cell work -- Dr. James Sherley, a biological engineer at Boston Biomedical Research Institute, and Theresa Deisher, of Washington-based AVM Biotechnology."

3. Explain what interests you about this article and/or the Constitutional connections you found.

I am personally interested in the bio-tech industry and I believe this research should be carried out as it can save and cure many diseases and disorders. But I also believe that it should be carried out without the intentional destruction of life. And I also wonder if an embryo has these rights if it is not a citizen until it is born.