This week, the battle over the medical treatment of Terri Schiavo continued, with legislation, court cases, and maneuvering for position on all sides. On Wednesday, Florida Governor Jeb Bush filed a motion to have the state take custody of the brain damaged woman, citing the opinion of a state doctor who argued that Schiavo was not truly in a 'persistent vegetative state,' but rather in a state of 'minimal consciousness.'

So what exactly is a persistent vegetative state? How does it differ from other conditions, such as coma? In this hour, we'll talk with neurologists about the condition, how it is diagnosed, and its medical prospects.

We'll also take a look at an unusual study in plant genetics. In work published this week by the journal nature, researchers reported finding that some plants may have a hidden mechanism for repairing damaged genetic material -- even when the plant received two copies of the damaged gene. Does that finding shake up the rules of inheritance? We'll talk about it.

Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Robert E. Pruitt
Associate Professor of Weed Genetics
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana

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James Bernat
Professor of Neurology
Dartmouth Medical School
Hanover, New Hampshire

Timothy E. Quill
Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry and Medical Humanities
Director, Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, NY

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This segment produced by Annette Heist