Adult Cells: Guided Missiles

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 4 — Stem cells taken from bone marrow are being used to reproduce the effects of a cancer treatment called interferon beta while avoiding toxic side effects.

Cancerous mice that underwent the stem-cell treatment lived significantly longer than those treated with the interferon alone and longer than those with no treatment.

Researchers from the University of Texas said the stem cells moved like guided missiles, targeting tumor cells and producing high concentrations of therapeutic proteins within the tumor cells.

‘Almost Always Bad’

AMERICANS UNITED FOR LIFE, Oct. 29 — A nationwide poll conducted for the public-interest bioethics law firm shows that 61% of Americans believe abortion is “almost always bad” for women.

Of those questioned, 64% said they knew a woman who had an abortion, and 55% said that, by their observation, it had been a negative experience for the woman. An Americans United For Life representative said, “Americans are increasingly aware that legalized abortion harms women.”

Aussies Reassess Abortion

THE AUSTRALIAN, Nov. 1 — John Anderson, the leader of the National Party, said the time is right for a debate on the country's late-term abortion policy.

Anderson said the debate will allow Aussies to “re-examine our understanding of medical science and the law” in light of recent statistics that show that, of 377 late-term abortions performed in South Australia between 1998 and 2002, the mother's mental state was cited as the primary reason for the abortion in more than half of the cases.