What the Nation's Leading Scientists Say . . .
About Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer or SCNT (Also
Known as Therapeutic Cloning)
In conjunction with research on
stem cell biology and the development of potential stem cell
therapies, research on approaches that prevent immune rejection of
stem cells and stem cell-derived tissues should be actively pursued.
These scientific efforts include the use of a number of techniques
to manipulate the genetic makeup of stem cells, including somatic
cell nuclear transfer.
The National Academy of
Sciences:
Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative
Medicine
There is no disagreement that the cloning of human beings should
be banned. What is at stake is the ability of scientists to use
nuclear transplantation and other advanced technologies to develop
cells that could provide improved approaches for treating spinal
cord injury and degenerative conditions including Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases, which together affect millions of Americans
and their families every day.
Paul Berg, Ph.D.
Nobel Prize
Winner for Chemistry
[T]he scientific and medical considerations that justify a ban on
human reproductive cloning at this time are not applicable to
nuclear transplantation to produce stem cells. Because of its
considerable potential for developing new medical therapies for
life-threatening diseases and advancing fundamental knowledge, the
panel supports the conclusion of a recent National Academies report
that recommended that biomedical research using nuclear
transplantation to produce stem cells be permitted.
The
National Academy of Sciences:
Scientific and Medical Aspects
of Human Reproductive Cloning
Somatic cell nuclear transfer is an incredible tool, not only for
developing therapies but for the kinds of research and testing that
brings us vital advances all across science. It would be an historic
mistake to ban SCNT for the purpose of creating cells.
John
McDonald, M.D., Ph.D.
Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Recommending restriction of research is a serious matter, and the
reasons for such a restriction must be compelling. . . . [T]here are
no scientific or medical reasons to ban nuclear transplantation to
produce stem cells, and such a ban would certainly close avenues of
promising scientific and medical research.
Dr. Irving L.
Weissman
Professor, Stanford University School of
Medicine
Chair, Panel on Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human
Cloning