October 3, 2005


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Zafar Hassan

      Re:      Geron Corporation
               Registration Statement on Form S-3
               File No. 333-127816

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In  accordance  with Rule 461 under the  Securities  Act of 1933, we hereby
request acceleration of the effective date of the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (No.  333-127816) of Geron  Corporation  (the  "Company").  We  respectfully
request that the  Registration  Statement  become effective as of 4:30 pm EDT on
Tuesday, October 4, 2005 or as soon thereafter as practicable.

     Pursuant  to  the  staff's  letter  dated  August  31,  2005,  the  Company
acknowledges   that  the  action  of  the  Commission  or  staff  declaring  the
Registration  Statement  effective does not: (i) foreclose the  Commission  from
taking any action with respect to the filing;  (ii) relieve the Company from its
full  responsibility  for the  adequacy and  accuracy of the  disclosure  in the
Registration  Statement;  and (iii)  enable the Company to assert this action as
defense in any  proceeding  initiated by the  Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.

     Please do not  hesitate to call the  undersigned  at (650)  473-7705 if you
have any questions regarding this request.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ David L. Greenwood

                                           David L. Greenwood
                                           Executive Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer


         cc:      Alan C. Mendelson, Esq.
                  Mark V. Roeder, Esq.