Thread by @antonioregalado

Because my main reporting subject is the cutting edge of biotechnology and conception, I will listen to Trump speech at the March of Life rally, starting shortly live and at CSPAN, and thread any highlights relevant to R&D.

c-span.org/video/?468482-…

https://twitter.com/antonioregalado/status/1220755269376004105

Intro music is House of the Rising Sun by the Animals.

Not sure what this means, if anything. I guess it's about some kind of den of sin.

getyarn.io/yarn-clip/9468…

Here comes Trump. Song is God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood.

"We are here for one simple reason, we are here to defend the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God given potential," -- Trump.

Did you know the question of 'potential' is also a scientific one, not only a political or religious one?

When Ian Wilmut and colleagues cloned Dolly the Sheep they showed that the genome in adult skin cell has the potential to form a new being.

"When we see a baby in the womb we glimpse the majesty of God's creation," -- TRUMP

I once looked through a microscope at a human embryo, a teeny ball of calls. I have to say the hair stood up on my arms. Pretty amazing that could become a person.

Scientists are figuring out exactly what molecular signals direct the development of the fertilized egg. It's now big data research, analyzing every RNA transcript in all the cells. Its a machine, how does it work?

As Darwin said "There is grandeur in this view of life"

Trump talking about babies "ripped from the mother's womb right up until delivery"

I guess, including delivery, if its a Ceasarian.

lots of almighty god talk from trump

He's about to finish.

He's finished.

Said nothing of relevance to biomedical research. No discussion of embryos or abortions in science

This continues a trend in which Trump makes no significant commentary, pro or con, in connection with any major technological development of the day (END)