7/29/2019 B4ANG0106C

1/4

Fdration Europenne Des Ecoles European Federation of Schools Janvier 2006 1/4UCB4 ANG Ecrit Niveau MASTER Corrig

UC B4 ANGLAIS NIVEAU MASTER EPREUVE ECRITE

CORRIGE JANVIER 2006

7/29/2019 B4ANG0106C

2/4

Fdration Europenne Des Ecoles European Federation of Schools Janvier 2006 2/4UCB4 ANG Ecrit Niveau MASTER Corrig

7/29/2019 B4ANG0106C

3/4

Fdration Europenne Des Ecoles European Federation of Schools Janvier 2006 3/4UCB4 ANG Ecrit Niveau MASTER Corrig

7/29/2019 B4ANG0106C

4/4

Fdration Europenne Des Ecoles European Federation of Schools Janvier 2006 4/4UCB4 ANG Ecrit Niveau MASTER Corrig

IV/ Essay:

Can stem cell research promote worldwide economic growth?

Many economic analysts seem to believe that stem cell research can promote economic growth onlocal, national, and international levels. However, others are more reticent in their opinions due tothe time-consuming nature of and overall uncertainty inherent in the majority of all major scientificresearch endeavors.

The phrases "stem cells" and "economic growth" seem permanently glued together. One wouldalmost think that embryonic stem cells could be directly injected into a stagnant economy to make ityoung and healthy again.

For example, the Korean government hailed Hwang Woo Suk, the Korean stem cell scientist, "as anational hero and leader of a project that could serve as a key engine of economic growth.California, of course, has pledged $3 billion for stem cell research over the next ten years.

And on the other side of the country, the Newark Star-Ledger wrote that New Jersey became thefirst state in the country to award public funding for human embryonic stem cell research, granting$5 million to 17 scientists at university, non-profit and corporate labs. The work will be focused onpotential therapies for devastating and debilitating disorders.

California taxpayers approved a $3 billion bond issue last year to support stem cell research.However, none of the money has been distributed because the effort is tied up in legal challenges.Ohio taxpayers have also supported adult stem cell research but have shied away from the morecontroversial embryonic work.

Economic studies show, beyond a doubt, that technological change is the major force driving long-run economic growth and rising living. However, the technological road to growth is long and farmore uncertain than it seems.

It may turn out that new ways of doing collaborative research, using Internet-based tools, canaccelerate the process. But at least for now, it still seems to take 20-25 years for a new technologyto really make an economic impact.

The policy implication, on the global, national, and local level, is that politicians should spread theirresearch largesse over a diversified portfolio of scientific areas. Yes, stem cell research may turnout to be the next big thing or the essential building block for the next scientific revolution--or itmay not.