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Embryonic
Stem Cell Research And Cloning Myths
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2005
The
Following Statement Can Be Attributed To Nevada LIFE
President
Don Nelson
The
furious debate and “political science” surrounding
embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) and cloning has
generated several myths, which have led to confusion
about ESCR and cloning. Comments last week by
Majority leader Frist only added to the confusion.
If the nation is going to have a serious debate about
embryonic stem cell research, it must be done with
clarity and truthfulness. Here are some myths
about embryonic stem cell research and cloning.
Myth
# 1 President Bush created new restrictions to federal
funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR).
President
Bush did not restrict human ESCR funding.
He liberalized it.
Prior to August 9, 2001 it was illegal to use
federal funds for research requiring the destruction
of human embryos.
President Bush’s policy provides federal
funding for research on embryonic stem cell lines in
existence before August 2001.
Last year over $200 million was spent for stem
cell research, of which about $190 million was
allotted for research on adult stem cells and nearly
$25 million for research on embryonic stem cell lines
that existed prior to August 9, 2001.
There is no ban on private or state funded ESCR.
ESCR is not illegal in the United States.
Only federal funding on embryos destroyed after
2001 is banned. In fact, there are no limits on
fetal farming, or human and animal hybrids.
Myth
#2 ESCR and cloning are illegal in the United States.
Only
federal funding of ESCR using embryos destroyed after
August 9, 2001 is prohibited.
Several states have moved in to provide money
for ESCR and cloning.
There’s nothing the government can do to stop
state, local and private organizations from funding or
engaging in ESCR and cloning.
Myth
#3 All stem cells come from the same place.
All stem cells are embryonic.
ESCR
advocates blur the distinctions between the types of
stem cell research to make it appear that all stem
cell research is the same, that it all has the same
moral significance and that ESCR opponents are
anti-stem cell research. Stem
cell research can generally be divided into two types,
embryonic stem cell research and “adult”
(non-embryonic stem cell research-ASCR).
The moral difference is the source of the stem
cells.
- Adult
stem cells (ASCs) are
cells that are derived from the patient’s own
body, or from umbilical cord blood, placental
tissues, amniotic fluid and other tissues as well
as cadavers.
They are found all over the human body, and
new research shows that they can be transformed
into any other kind of cells.
- Embryonic
stem cells (ESCs)
are derived from human embryos-human beings in the
embryonic stage of development.
There is no other way to obtain embryonic
stem cells than to destroy the life of an
embryonic human being.
Myth # 4
ESCR has shown the most promise in developing
treatments and cures.
After billions of private investment dollars and years of promises about
cures, ESCR has not treated any human
beings and there are no human trials. ESCR
in animal studies has caused teratomas and has proved
to be too dangerous for human trials.
Private investment has deserted ESCR for ASCR
because ASCR
is already helping and curing thousands of people, there are over 80
ASCR cures or treatments including sickle cell anemia,
and over 300 human trials on the way.
Bio-tech companies engaged in ESCR are broke
and looking for the taxpayer to bail them out.
See pp 21-27 of Dr. David Prentice’s
Powerpoint presentation testimony to Congress
regarding the current applications and clinical trials
regarding ESCR and ASCR at http://www.cloninginformation.org/congressional_testimony/prentice_2005-01-03.pdf.
Myth
#5. Opponents of Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR)
oppose all stem cell research.
Nevada LIFE and other opponents of ESCR like
the Catholic Bishops and other right to life groups
are strong supporters of almost all stem cell
research. These
supporters of stem cell research only oppose that
small part of stem cell research that creates and
destroys human life. A person can be a
strong supporter of stem cell research and oppose
embryonic stem cell research at the same time.
Myth
#6, There aren’t enough existing embryonic stem cell
lines for research and they are in poor condition.
Leon
Kass PhD is the chairman of the President’s Council
on Bio-Ethics. Chairman Kass says there is no shortage of embryonic stem
cells. “…22
lines of eligible stem cells are available, up from
just one line in the summer of 2002, with more coming
-- enough lines for years of essential basic research
that must precede any future therapy. Nearly 500
shipments of cells have already been made to
researchers; 3,500 more sit ready for delivery upon
request. There is no shortage of embryonic stem
cells.” (Washington Post, October 8, 2004; Page
A35). Nevada
LIFE does not support the use of these embryonic stem
cells, but we support the funding restrictions on any
new killing of human embryos for research.
Myth
#7 ESCR Opponents Are Extremists.
A
poll by International Communications Research posed
the question “should scientists be allowed to use
human cloning to create a supply of human embryos to
be destroyed in medical research?
13.3% said Yes:
79.8% said no. Wilson Research Strategies, Inc. asked respondents “which
of the following comes closest to your view?” in
regards to human cloning and embryonic stem cell
research. 24% said cloning to create human embryos for
stem cell research,
which would kill the embryos,
should be allowed and only cloning for reproduction
should be banned.
69% said all human cloning should be banned.
74 percent of Americans said that they support
using tax dollars to pay for the kind of stem cell
research that does not require the killing of human
embryos, while only 20 percent opposed.
A majority of Americans support a ban on both
reproductive and research cloning. Many countries and
international organizations, including the U.N,
Germany, Switzerland, the European Parliament, and
others, have banned all human cloning.
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