Two Wisconsin Republicans, Van Wanggaard of Racine and Dale Kooyenga of Brookfield, have proposed a bill that would use tax dollars to invest in the state’s biotechnology sector. Under the New Generation Jobs bill, 95 percent of the increase in biotech payroll taxes will go to a reserve fund, which will be used to invest in Wisconsin bioscience companies. Meanwhile, another bill was introduced last August by GOP legislators that would interfere with countless ongoing research projects and restrict progress in the life sciences. The proposed ban on fetal tissue in research would make it illegal to use human stem cells in experiments, effectively eliminating one of the most promising fields of investigation in medicine.
Biotechnology is widely considered to be the next game-changer in the science industry. In the same way physics, electronics and engineering collaborated to give us the computer science revolution of the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, the application of progress in biological sciences to medicine, agriculture and industry is already making waves in the economy. It promises solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as disease, energy and pollution. Engineered bacteria produce high quality insulin for diabetics at relatively low cost. New strains of algae will make ethanol a viable substitute for gasoline and solar panels that use chlorophyll will mimic the way plants harvest solar energy.
In addition to all the other benefits, there is no advancement in biotechnology more relevant than stem cell research. Pioneers such as the University of Wisconsin’s Jamie Thompson have explored the possibilities of using these “workhorse cells” to regenerate spinal cord and brain tissue, grow replacement organs and develop vaccines. These medical advancements would have a massive impact on the quality of medical care worldwide, changing the lives of innumerable people who live with chronic diseases and physical disabilities today.
On one hand, those who argue against have framed the stem cell debate as a morally absolute issue, equating the use of stem cells in research to using an aborted fetus to clone humans. However, fetal stem cells used in laboratories come from fetuses that have already been aborted and will be discarded if they are not donated for research. If abortion is already legal, we ought to use the stem cells to improve the lives of living humans. If living people can greatly benefit from a new form of medical research, we should think first and foremost of curing them, not of the ethical dilemmas associated with the beginning of life. Government would do well to support medical research that holds the promise of such massive health benefits.
Wisconsin benefits greatly from its bio-industry. Between 2001 and 2008, its employment grew at 15.8 percent annually. The industry has 23,919 employees in Wisconsin earning an average of $69,096 a year and generates over $6 billion a year for the state. The state of Wisconsin must continue to encourage growth in this industry. By investing in this industry, the state is investing in its own future. However, investing in the biotech business and restricting it by banning the use of stem cells are ideas that work in opposition. Republican legislators can’t have it both ways; it’s time that they made a choice. A hands-off approach to investing in biotechnology will be prosperous for Wisconsin and have a positive impact on the world.
Charles Godfrey ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in math and physics.
