The Scientific Quarterly

STEM CELL RESEARCH (AS IMAGINED BY ITS OPPONENTS)

By Jason Silverstein

I. THE HEADQUARTERS OF SCIENCE (EUROPE)

- Hand me the abortion elixir.

- But – but Master, it has yet to finish bubbling.

- What in the Darwin?! Here, hold another burning Bible below it. It usually
takes three or four.

- But why can’t we use these perfectly suitable adult stem cells? I have an
entire briefcase right here.

- Because if we cure these diseases, then we’ll be out of business for good!
That’s why!

- I’m so glad you have no common sense.

- Yes, I am extremely arrogant. I refuse to accept anything not in a textbook.

- Dolly Almighty, did you see this fax? It’s from Hollywood. A rush order for
three thousand more designer baby arms!

- Well, this is certainly the first time I’ve supported the right to bare arms!

- Oh, Master!

II. THE PLAYBOY MANSION

- Thanks for inviting me to this science sex party.

- You’re so funny. You are my sex slave that I cloned from stem cells.

- What?! That can’t be true.

- Look at your feet. You are still standing in the petri dish.

- I’m a – I’m a clone? How did you –

- I needed but a single human hair, just like in Superman IV. Movies are
completely accurate portrayals of modern science.

- Why would you do this to me?

- Because I am a scientist and it is my job to hurt people.

- This water from the Playboy Grotto – it isn’t getting me wet.

- That’s because I made you water-resistant, so you could never be baptized!
How’s that for intelligent design!

- You scientific bastard!

III. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

- We have a situation.

- What is it?

- Well, when we were growing the soulless babies for spare parts–

- Yes?

- …

- Out with it, damn it!

- Well, we found something – something science can’t explain.

- Destroy it. Destroy it, immediately.

- But Professor Luciferre –

- Immediately.

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Jason Silverstein's writing has recently appeared in McSweeney's Internet Tendency and the British Journal of Haematology. In recognition of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, he'd like to forgo the customary humorous blurb and ask that you, kind reader, consider supporting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org.

 

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