Iowa Senate Passes Bill on Human Cloning

Senate eases restrictions on embryonic stem cell research

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that Democrats say would ease restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, but critics say it could open the door to human cloning.The bill, passed on 26-24 vote, now goes to the House, where Gov. Chet Culver said "it's really up to the 100 state representatives now to decide if they want to give hope and opportunity to tens of thousands of people."I really believe that we have an obligation as elected officials to do what is in the best interest of the people that we represent," said Culver, who was joined by medical professionals and parents of two children suffering from juvenile diabetes at a new conference at the Statehouse.
Democrats say current state law forbids therapeutic cloning to develop new stem cells, which many scientists say hold new promise in therapies for many diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer."The kinds of research that we're talking about that will be enabled by this new legislation is the kind of research that Iowans need most to get better," said Dr. Mark Anderson, a University of Iowa researcher.
House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said he is unsure if the House will pass the bill. He said Republicans support stem cell research that could find cures but are wary about opening the possibility of human cloning."The Senate rammed this thing through in 48 hours," Rants said. "It didn't allow much opportunity for public input. ... We need to slow this thing down."Rick Langel, of Ankeny, was joined by his 9-year-old daughter Amber at the news conference to tell of her struggles with juvenile diabetes. He said the so-called stem cell research enhancement act provides hope to his child and to many other Iowans."I made a promise to her, and to myself, that I would do everything to find a cure," he said as the slender girl leaned against him at the podium. He added that "Amber, and other kids like her, deserve the chance for a cure."The issue comes down to what human cloning means. The heart of debate is about the term "somatic nuclear transfer," which scientists call therapeutic cloning.It allows for a technique in which the nucleus of a human cell is injected or transplanted into a fertilized or unfertilized egg from which the nucleus has been removed. The process creates, or clones, stem cells that are genetically compatible with a recipient.Iowa's current law bans the process, but the proposed bill allows it, saying it does not constitute human reproductive cloning.Democrats stress the bill would not allow cells to be cloned and then placed inside a woman's womb or a substitute womb.However, groups like the Iowa Family Policy Center say the bill simply redefines human cloning to fit supporters' preferences."According to the bill, if you clone to kill for research that's not cloning, but if you clone to allow the embryo to live, that is cloning," the group said in a news release.Culver, who made stem cell research a central campaign last year, said there's much work to be done to get the bill passed in the House, and to keep politics from overshadowing the issue."The overwhelming majority of Iowans support finding cures, the overwhelmingly majority of Iowans support keeping the ban on human cloning, as I do," he said. "This debate should not be focused on anything but helping those that are dealing with these real-life situations."On the Net:Iowa General Assembly: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Iowa Right to Life: http://www.irlc.org/