ESCR and SF
With the advent of the internet combined with a seemingly endless book queue (If I ever showed up missing Police would start checking book stores first) I don't spend much time watching tv and when I do it is sans commercials courtesy of a DVR. I do look forward to SciFi channel's line up on Friday nights (along with Monk). Normally the explanation of science in these shows are full of explanations that don't bear close scrutiny. What do you expect though when answers to complex scientific and medical situations are almost always arrived at within the 42 minutes or so of time. Last night though as I watched my recording of Stargate Atlantis they added a bit of modern SF, that is embryonic stem-cell advocacy. One of the main characters Lt. Col. John Shephard had been bitten by the Wraith girl Ellia who had taken a retrovirus that basically turned her into variation a Iratus bug (what the Wraith had evolved from). John Shephard also begins the transformation and Dr. Beckett begins human embryonic stem-cell treatment. Now this part of the script was pretty close to reality and not SF, because the treatment didn't work. The Doctor then decides that he actually needs embryonic stem-cells from the Iratus bug because "Embryonic stem-cells are the best." Wow, just great while wanting to just kick back and relax I have to be hit over the head with ESCR advocacy, though I guess I don't know why I should be surprised. Though I guess ESCR is fitting for SF show or maybe it would be more fitting for fantasy .
Now I guess though that embryonic stem-cells taken from the Iratus bug would not be morally problematic considering that these are irrational creatures. On the mission to get some of these bugs from a cave two people were killed. Dr. Weir refused to risk anymore lives to save one person. But it seems to me that after allowing the use of human embryonic stem-cells to try to save one life what is the difference if some more are killed? Yeah I know it is only a television show but this is only a blog so I can rant if I want.
Known as 
I guess I'll have to watch the episode again, but I didn't catch the part about Dr. Becket actually trying human embryonic stem cell therapy on Lt. Col. Shephard. I do remember him suggesting it, a member of his science team striking down the idea because more human genetic material would only feed the retrovirus, and Becket then saying that's why they needed to get Iratus stem cells.
Now I guess though that embryonic stem-cells taken from the Iratus bug would not be morally problematic considering that these are rational creatures.
I think you left out the word "not" or the prefix "ir-".
I was frustrated as could be by this on Friday night! (I, too, look forward to SciFi Friday and Monk.) When they said that "Embryonic stem cells are the best," I just about fell off my chair! What a bunch of garbage. Their science writers need to check up on their facts, because umbillical cords and baby teeth have the best stem cells.
Admittedly, the Iratus bugs don't have umbillical cords, but they still could have gotten a good story out of getting Iratus bug baby teeth, don't you think, instead of pushing the embryonic stem cell agenda?
And what really frustrated me was that the room to which the comment was made was supposedly filled with the "best and the brightest" scientists of Earth. Grrr.
I saw the episode yesterday afternoon. Hubby and I have other stuff to do on fridays and our dvr allows us to get our geek on whenever we need to. I actually ran into the kitchen for a drink and heard this said and I started fussing. He was preterbed as well, as much because of my rant as the fact that they gave me something to rant about. If he wanted something to get me upset he would have turned on CNN. Though I must say on SG1 I am intrigued by the Ori.
I saw this also and felt the same way. They had took that stance on ESCR, and did it with such a flippant attitude. The fact that they showed that it worked so quickly bugged (no pun intended) me also.
God Bless and keep up the good work
Wcoyote