Bioethics In The News – February 13, 2006

February 13, 2006

U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) has removed his name from a bipartisan bill (Brownback, R-KS and Landrieu, D-LA) to ban all forms of human cloning. Talent is emphasizing alternative techniques for obtaining stem cells (altered nuclear transfer or ANT), and feels the Brownback/Landrieu bill might forestall such research. Those leading the push for ANT disagree.

A study that examined the incidence of Alzheimer’s in twins suggests that “Up to 80% of the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is genetic.” Important to note here is that the link between genetics and environment is unexplored. Key quote from the head of research at the UK Alzheimer Association:

This study makes advances towards quantifying this relationship and will help scientists to understand more about the role of genetics in the development of the disease.

However, we still don’t know enough.

More research is needed into the role genes play in developing late onset Alzheimer’s.

We also need to better pin down the environmental factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.”

One vogue gift in China this Valentine’s season is “eyelid doubling,” a plastic surgery procedure “where an extra crease is added to the upper eyelid to make the eyes look larger.”

You may recall the recent advertising campaign by Dove entitled “Campaign for Real Beauty.” One aspect that received considerable attention was the “Real Women Have Real Curves” series of ads. Interestingly, the centerpiece of the Campaign for Real Beauty in Singapore is an internet poll on the question, “When surgery adds an extra eyelid, does it remove your identity?” Twice as nice is currently leading 3,062 – 1,672.