Stem cell research

Madam, - The letter from Prof Martin Clynes on funding for stem cell research (October 30th) is timely and clear

Madam, - The letter from Prof Martin Clynes on funding for stem cell research (October 30th) is timely and clear. A decision is to be taken in November on the allocation of EU funding for such research. It is hoped - and indeed expected - that Ireland will not just remain "neutral" but join Germany, Italy, Portugal and others in opposing the proposal.

A human embryo is a potential child and potential adult and, as Prof Clynes points out, it would be clearly wrong to kill early embryos to make stem cells available for research.

Research funds could be directed instead to support investigation of adult, neonatal, cord blood or placental human stem cells and animal stem cells which are just as likely as human embryonic stem cells to lead to possible cure for diseases. In this country we are naturally against such disposal of human embryos, so how could we condone spending our money on such procedures, wherever they take place. Such a travesty. - Yours, etc.,

SHEAMUS DUNDON, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, RCSI, Bushy Park Road, Dublin 6.