To the Editor:
Alexander Rives, in his column (“Science departments must educate the public,” 2/21), tells us that misinformation about biology “will hamper the potential for biology to dramatically improve human life.”
I contest the claim that misinformation about biological fact is a major factor in the dispute on embryonic stem cell research. The dispute centers much more on the issue of whether human organisms which are alive but not yet in possession of consciousness deserve to be accorded the right to life. Some believe all human beings should be protected and others do not.
Lukas Halim ’02
february 21, 2002