Senators Denounce Scientist's Stem Cell Claims

The political football stem cell research takes another bounce...

Confusion Over Harm to Embryos In Study at Issue

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 7, 2006; Page A04

Two senators who strongly support human embryonic stem cell research lashed out yesterday at the scientist who recently reported the creation of those cells by a method that does not require the destruction of embryos, saying the scientist and his company have harmed the struggling field by overstating their results.

"It's a big black eye if scientists are making false and inaccurate representations," a combative Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations labor, health and human services subcommittee, which he chairs.

Sen. Arlen Specter: "It's a big black eye if scientists are making false and inaccurate representations."

Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) in Worcester, Mass., defended his work and the company's statements. "Our paper is 100 percent correct," said the visibly shaken scientist, referring to the highly publicized article that appeared in the Aug. 24 issue of the journal Nature.

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