GESTIÓN EN SALUD PÚBLICA: The puppy has two faces: Streisand on cloning dogs

domingo, 4 de marzo de 2018

The puppy has two faces: Streisand on cloning dogs

The puppy has two faces: Streisand on cloning dogs

Bioedge

The puppy has two faces: Streisand on cloning dogs

by Xavier Symons | 4 Mar 2018 |

Sad about losing your beloved poodle? Why not clone them?

In an interview with Variety magazine last week, singer and actress Barbara Streisand opened up about cloning her long-time soul-pet Samantha for US$50,000.

Samantha passed away in 2004, but Streisand couldn't stand the thought of living without him -- so she tried to keep a little bit of him alive:

I just wanted to keep her with me in some way … Sammie’s doctor took some cells from insider her cheek and the skin on her tummy just before she died. And we sent those cells to ViaGen Pets in Texas...

The cloning process unexpectedly produced four puppies, but Streisand gave two away to friends and kept the other two.

Each puppy is unique and has her own personality. You can clone the look of a dog, but you can’t clone the soul.

Still, every time I look at their faces, I think of my Samantha … and smile”.

Viagen Pets has cloned thousands of animals over the last 15 years, and the company reports that it has a waiting list. “Pet’s lives are very short compared to ours”, Viagen manager Melain Rodriguez said. “So if you can clone that pet and have another one that is very similar, it’s very rewarding”.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

In 2004, Californian voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 71, a ballot initiative which created the US$3 billion California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. This was the apogee of stem cell fundamentalism around the world. Stem cells, especially human embryonic stem cells, were the key to unlock the secrets of human biology. They would lead to cures to dread diseases, perhaps not tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow.

Hollywood stars enthusiastically backed the ballot initiative. Quadriplegic Christopher Reeves told voters in an advertisement, "Stem cells have already cured paralysis in animals. Stem cells are the future of medicine." Parkinson’s victim Michael J. Fox said: "Vote yes on 71, and save the life of someone you love."

Fourteen years on, the CIRM (aka California taxpayers) has received its first royalties – a cheque for US$190,345.87 – a 0.00006% return on investment. And that’s not for a cure, by the way. It’s for a drug which has only passed a Phase I clinical trial. Clearly, California voters were sold a pup. Is it time for the state to set up a stem cell truth and reconciliation commission? Read the story below.