[9th Engineer]

I am strongly in favor of stem cell research, but I have come to terms with side issues that will come with the territory. As well as research involving new drugs there will also be research done on how exactly how cells develop in the first days after conception. This will allow us to screen far more accurately for birth defects and enable us to combine gametes that have the genetic traits chosen by the parents. Once the all-clear is given these options will be open to companies which will pursue them due to the massive potential market once all the religious-right wingers have been silenced and nay-sayers of human engineering realize they cannot tell parents that they have no right to guarantee themselves healthy, productive offspring. Of course this won't be made public until all the kinks have been worked out and they won't have to tell anyone. Just remember that once you open something like this you cant tell people what part of it they can research. Don't kid yourselves that this is going to result in only altruistic cancer research, the almighty dollar is what's going to rule here.