A great article by Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of England, promoting a law that backs stem cell research and the creation of "admixed embryos."
I find this a bold, positive, endorsement of science from a politician. Maybe our own politicians can follow suit.

Comments encouraged.

Omai

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/18/stemcells.medicalresearch

Let's not praise famous men too much. Gordon Brown has been associated with the enough untoward events that praise is neither appropriate nor relevant to the basic science issues. The "admix" of human with other life forms is a research element that can only be stretched to positive end benefit by the most active imagination. I think it his support shows Gordon;s shallowness, esp. as he dismisses the ethical aspects so easily.

Anyone who knows about Gordon Browns family background will realise that he did not make the decision to back this research lightly. He will have had a mixture of ethical and practical considerations but still made (what I believe to be the right choice) despite these and the real possibility that a number of his ministers (political) would resign over the matter. He gave them a free vote.
This took courage.

I know nothing about the guy and do not care - and I challenge the prev. poster's claim of mind reading - Brown's or others. Take a shot - I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 1x10E20.

This was political grandstanding and hardly a demonstration of courage.