Regulation & Rights 5/8

Regulation & Rights

After we listen to the Israeli news brought to you by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, I introduce the topic of embryonic gene regulation in a show called "Regulation and Rights". Everyone now knows about stem cells, particularly following the controversies in America and the recent court ruling limiting embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells are pluripotent -- that is, they are capable of developing into the many varied cells in our body as they are induced to differentiate. There has to be a regulator to determine that differentiation. However, the regulatory system is disrupted if you drink alcohol even before you know you are pregnant. The result is a severe disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. How does it happen? We explore the question of regulation and its disruption with Abraham Fainsod, one of IMRC's leading scientists at Hebrew University. Do the embryos from which stem cells are derived have rights? Not in Israel. Individuals have rights. Some have criticized Israel's record. We explore that record with Ruth Gavison and Gerald Steinberg. In contrast, Saudi Arabia with a deplorable record on human rights receives very little attention and correspondingly relatively little criticism. Yet it has been lauded for its recent leadership in fostering a Palestinian-Israeli peace. We explore the character and role of Saudi Arabia with Barry Rubin and then follow that up with a guest of Yossi's, Lorne Simon, who serves the needs of the homeless by dispensing sleeping bags and survival kits.

Category:

Education

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• Israel
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• world
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• regulation
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• embryos
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