Science

Senator Brownback Mangles Cord Blood Transplant Comments

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), 2008 Presidential candidate, decided to quote non-embryonic stem cell advances to say the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S.5, which is up for debate in the Senate today) is not necessary. His description of cord-blood recipients shows his lack of knowledge. I just checked these numbers before I came over here. […]

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), 2008 Presidential candidate, decided to quote non-embryonic stem cell advances to say the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S.5, which is up for debate in the Senate today) is not necessary. His description of cord-blood recipients shows his lack of knowledge.

I just checked these numbers before I came over here. At the end of 2006, there had been 10,000 cord blood transplants to unrelated donors. I got those numbers from the NY blood center, which was responsible for 2,500 of those units. That's 10,000 people, probably alive that wouldn't be -- maybe some in other ways and shapes -- but still, it's taking place.

"Maybe some in other ways and shapes"? Like, dead maybe? More on this tomorrow in my upcoming Wired News column.