Over at The Daily Beast, “Neurobiologist Maureen L. Condic investigates 11 common arguments in favor of embryonic stem-cell research, and explains why science may not need the controversial technique, after all.”

Well worth reading.

My friends at The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network are completing work on a documentary on the stem cell and cloning debates. Check out the trailer for The Lines That Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate.

Lines That Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate from CBC Network on Vimeo.

The beaches in Chicago opened today. Oddly, the high temperature today is predicted to be 55. Worse, the water temperature is reported to be 41. Happy hypothermic holiday weekend!

As you prepare for the holiday weekend, maybe you’re looking for something to read while laying on the beach. Cast of Shadows is a debut novel (thriller) that gives a vivid picture of what the world might be like if cloning to produce children becomes as widely accepted and practiced as in vitro fertilization (IVF) has become. Christina Bieber Lake, associate professor of English at Wheaton College, reviewed the book for The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity in 2005.

Happy reading! (And stay warm)