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A pair of major developments were covered by correspondents on all three newscasts. The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments over the meaning of the Second Amendment--whose right to bear arms does it protect? And biotech scientists in Wisconsin and Kyoto announced an advance in the genetic engineering, introducing genetic code into cells from adult skin to make them act as if they were embryonic. Embryonic cells, in turn, may be programed to grow into the various specialized cells of the body. The stem cells were the Story of the Day, leading both CBS and NBC. ABC chose its own interview instead, sending anchor Charles Gibson to Camp David in the Maryland mountains to sit down with George and Laura Bush.

"An outstanding achievement!" exclaimed NBC's Robert Bazell. "A jawdropping breakthrough!" marveled CBS' Jon LaPook. On ABC, David Muir (subscription required) pointed out that stem cell research activists, such as the Michael J Fox Foundation, still insist that "at this time embryonic stem cells remain the gold standard for understanding how a cell develops." So the import of the genetic engineering is as much political, removing the opposition of pro-lifers, as medical. If this approach were technically feasible, "there would be no more ethical issues about stem cell research," NBC's Bazell predicted. LaPook, CBS' in-house physician, suggested a practical use for the technique: "Doctors can take the skin cells from someone with Alzheimer's; turn them into nerve cells; and try different drugs in the Petri dish--without experimenting on the patient."

Andrew Tyndall 11/21/07 6:52:54 pm

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