|
Embryonic Stem Cell
Research And Cloning Legislation
There are several types of
embryonic stem cell research and cloning legislation
1.
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.
This bill, vetoed twice by President Bush, would allow
federal funding for "research that utilizes human
embryonic stem cells in accordance with this section
(regardless of the date on which the stem cells were
derived from a human embryo) ." The Bush policy
allows federal funding for embryonic research for
embryonic stem cell lines in existence at August 9, 2001at
9PM. It prohibits funding of embryonic stem cell
lines using embryonic stem cell procured from embryos
after this date.
2.
Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of
2002. A bill "to ban human cloning while
protecting stem cell research." This bill defines
cloning this way: "`human cloning' means asexual human
reproduction by implanting or attempting to implant the
product of nuclear transplantation into a woman's uterus
or a substitute for a woman's uterus." It defines
cloning as the implantation or transfer of the clone
(product of nuclear transplantation) into a uterus instead
of the creation of the cloned embryo (product of nuclear
transplantation.
What is "nuclear
transplantation?" It's a technical term
meant to obfuscate cloning and to confuse the listener.
This is what Nevada LIFE calls "political science."
Nuclear transfer or somatic cell nuclear transfer happens
when the nucleus of a body cell is transferred into an
unfertilized egg that has been emptied of its contents.
An electrical charge is applied and a new clone is
created. See
www.cloninginformation.org/images/howcloningworks.pdf
for an image and
diagram from David Prentice, PhD, Family Research Council,
Georgetown University Medical School.
3.
The Human Cloning Prohibition Act 0f 2007
A bill to
prohibit human cloning.
The term "`human cloning'
means human asexual reproduction, accomplished by
introducing nuclear material from one or more human
somatic cells into a fertilized or unfertilized oocyte
whose nuclear material has been removed or inactivated so
as to produce a living organism (at any stage of
development) that is genetically virtually identical to an
existing or previously existing human organism."
This bill defines cloning as occurring when the human
clone comes into existence, not when he or she is
implanted in or transferred to a uterus.
4.
Fetus Farming Protection Act of 2006, "A bill
to to prohibit the solicitation or acceptance of tissue
from fetuses gestated for research purposes, and for other
purposes." This makes it illegal to grow fetuses for
research and other purposes.
5.
The Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies
Enhancement Act.
This is a bill "To derive human pluripotent stem cell
lines using techniques that do not knowingly harm
embryos." Embryonic stem cells are said to be "pluripotent."
That is, they can become any kind of cell. This is
an attempt to get embryonic stem cells without harming
embryos. See our Nevada Lifes Congressional Briefing
Embryonic Stem
Cell Research and HR 810/S471, Why The Senate Should
Oppose S 471 And Support President Bush's Embryonic Stem
Cell Research Funding Policy section 8b Embryonic Stem
Cell Alternatives. This briefing was created in
2005. There are newer suggestions not listed there.
The bill passed in the Senate in 2006 and was rejected by
the House. President Bush has funded this research
by executive order.
6.
New Jersey’s “Anti-Cloning Law”
(S.
1909, law found at L.2003,c.203,s.3).
This
bill was called a human cloning ban. The bill
synopsis says it
"Permits human stem cell
research in New Jersey." This bill, now law in New
Jersey, legislates a third definition of cloning. "As
used in this section, 'cloning of a human being' means the
replication of a human individual by cultivating a cell
with genetic material through the egg, embryo, fetal and
newborn stages into a new human individual." This
means that it would be legal to create a human clone,
implant him or her in a uterus, gestate the clone and as
long as the clone is not born or does not survive until
the new human individual emerges, using the "cadeveric
tissue" for research and transplantation purposes is
acceptable. The Fetus Farming Protection Act
should supersede this state statute. |
