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ASRM BULLETIN
Volume 3, Number 17
August 1,
2001
House Votes for Total Ban on Cloning
(Washington, DC) – After six hours of
often-passionate debate, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 265 to
162 to pass a measure prohibiting both reproductive cloning and cloning
for research purposes. An amendment that would have prohibited
reproductive cloning but allowed the creation of cloned embryos for
research purposes was defeated 251 to 176.
The Human Cloning
Prohibition Act of 2001, sponsored by Representative Dave Weldon, a
Florida Republican and physician, makes illegal all uses of human somatic
cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). If convicted of performing or attempting to
perform human cloning, one would be subject to imprisonment for up to ten
years and fines of $1,000,000 or more. The Act also makes it illegal to
import products resulting from human cloning, with the effect that
American patients will be deprived of treatments developed in countries
where the research is allowed.
Supporters of the total ban justify
their position by claiming that the mere existence of cloned research
embryos creates an unacceptable danger that someone would use them to
initiate a pregnancy. They also emphasize that they find the creation of
embryos solely for research purposes morally repugnant. The corresponding
Senate bill, proposed by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), is likely to face
more difficulty.
The unfortunate effect of prohibiting the use of
SCNT techniques for research is to close off some of the more promising
avenues of stem cell research. Embryonic stem cells can be obtained from
unused, donated IVF-created embryos or from cloned embryos created by
SCNT. The possibilities presented by stem cells from cloned embryos for
developing therapies involving tissue transplantation are especially
promising. For example, a patient needing cardiac muscle or pancreatic
islet cells could have the tissues grown from stem cells derived from his
own somatic cells containing his own DNA, thus eliminating the problem of
rejection. In addition, the study of embryos cloned from somatic cells
would offer insight into the mechanisms of genetic reprogramming and
therefore greater understanding of the workings of adult stem
cells.
Advocates of the less-restrictive alternative legislation
caution that the sweeping ban is ill-considered. Representative Jim
Greenwood (R-PA) warns that "cures for diseases, ailments and illnesses …
may be lost should we entirely ban this technology." According to
Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY), "It's Congress playing scientist.
Make no mistake, my
friends, we are treading through uncharted
waters."
Yesterday, the ASRM issued a statement expressing dismay
at the result of the vote. The statement is quoted in the August 1,
2001 Washington Post and follows below the link.
See www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13044-2001Jul31.html
for Post coverage.
ASRM Statement on House Passage of Weldon Cloning Bill
Statement Attributable to Sean Tipton
Director of
Public Affairs, American Society for Reproductive Medicine
“The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is
very disappointed that the House has passed an irresponsible,
over-reaching restriction on scientific research. By banning all use of
somatic cell nuclear transfer, the Republican leadership of the House has
made a priority of symbolism over substance, and put politics over
patients.
By making illegal all use of somatic cell nuclear
transfer, HR 2505 prohibits American scientists from discovering potential
cures for diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord
injury. If other countries develop these cures, the Weldon bill would make
it illegal for American patients to use them.
We urge the Senate to
take a more responsible approach to cloning legislation. The ASRM has been
on record in opposing reproductive cloning since 1997. We have supported
and would support in the Senate, a more responsible restriction on human
cloning. By crafting legislation that
would prohibit human reproductive
cloning, but allow related research to continue, the Senate can prohibit
the cloning of a human being without stopping vital research.
It is
frustrating that we have not been able to make the members of Congress
understand the connection between stem cell research and therapeutic
cloning. Therapeutic cloning using Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer will
likely be the application that fulfills the promise stem cell research
holds for patients. If American researchers are not free to explore this
field, we may never develop the understanding we need to utilize the full
power of these promising treatments. It is likely that this legislation
will render the U.S. to a minor role in advancing many medical treatments.
We will become followers and not leaders and our people and industry will
suffer needlessly.
ASRM, founded in 1944, has more than 8,500
members who are devoted to advancing knowledge and expertise in
reproductive medicine and biology. ASRM-affiliate societies include the
Society of Reproductive Surgeons, the Society for Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society for Male Reproduction and
Urology, and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.
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