Cloning/Stem Cell Research:
Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Cloning:
Still on the Radar Screen

view the .pdf | note: all footnotes are included within the .pdf

By Toni Meyer, Sr. Research Analyst, NJ Family Policy Council

Back in December, NJ State Senators approved a bill that would have permitted experiments on human embryos, including those from “somatic cell nuclear transplantation”, otherwise known as therapeutic human cloning. This type of cloning allows for the artificial manufacturing of cloned human beings for implantation in a uterus at the embryonic stage. Further, after implantation, the bill would have allowed more experimentation and organ harvesting as long as the baby is killed at any time from the embryonic period right up to the ninth month of pregnancy. Fortunately, when it came up for a vote in the Assembly on Feb. 10th, the bill was withdrawn – for now – apparently in response to public pressure.

However, the NJ Assembly approved a different bill that same day. The bill, Advanced Directives for Embryos A-496, gives couples the right to specify how to “dispose” of the “by-products” of in-vitro-fertilization. What are the “by-products”? They are ova, sperm and human embryos. Stated in this bill are choices for disposition: to either surviving partner, as a donation for research purposes, to be thawed with no further action taken, given as a donation to another couple or individual, or some other disposition which must be clearly stated. This is just another incremental step to embryonic stem cell research and a step toward another ethical dilemma of letting the embryos die. The bill is now headed for the NJ Senate, where a senate committee could vote as early as March 10th.

Why are our legislators and governor so eager to legalize research on human embryos, particularly those obtained from the many invitro-fertilization clinics? The likely answer is that the medical industry wants access to the “free” embryonic stem cells that would be available from the multi-billion dollar fertility industry with hundreds of clinics nationwide . But this is not the only way for the medical industry, the state of NJ, and individuals to profit. The medical industry and the state of NJ could also introduce legislation that would permit, for example, the utilization of frozen umbilical cord blood. A new study published in January 2003 by the National Academy of Sciences shows that frozen umbilical cord blood is a good source of usable, stem cells that could be used to find cures for diseases. Not only would this not require the destruction of human embryos, but there would be even more available stem cells available to researchers, based on the number of births each year in NJ alone.

As a society we currently impose severe civil and monetary penalties for destroying a bald eagle’s egg. Surely we can do the same, at minimum, to protect our own kind – human beings. Let’s inform our legislators that we do not have to now, nor should we ever, put money and profits above people, and the dignity of human life.

 

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