Lawrence S.B. Goldstein

Stem cells have the ability to generate into any type of cell the body requires, and scientists claim that research into the use of stem cells may lead to improvements in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and some types of cancer. However, because such cells are derived from aborted fetal tissue, ethical considerations have caused the federal government to halt funding for stem cell research. In the following viewpoint, Lawrence S.B. Goldstein argues that the potential medical benefits justify the use of stem cells; therefore, he advocates lifting the ban on government funding of stem cell research. Goldstein is a professor in the Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Department of Pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

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