In last week's Forum, we asked you what you thought about the ethics of embryonic stem cell research to discover ways to treat illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. Here is one response.

Pro-life and pro-research

I am writing in support of stem cell research. I am also pro-life. I believe that the issue relates to the intention associated with the creation of the stem cells in the laboratory.

I propose using anonymous volunteers to donate egg and sperm cells. Voluntary consent prior to the donation would specify that these cells are to be used only for the creation of stem cells tissue lines for research purposes only, not for creating human pregnancies. The intention of creating an embryo is avoided since no human implantation was ever intended. The only intention would be to provide science with a source of undifferentiated stem cells for the benefit of everyone.

Jack Brueggemann Jr.
Edgewood