Iowa Legalizes Cloning, & Something to Do About It

This past week Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed into law SF-162 which legalizes using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to create clones to harvest for stem cells. To hear Gov. Culver & my state represntative, Pat Murphy, we have just entered into the promised land of finally finding cures using stem cells, cures that have been denied for so long because of a ban on cloning that they have claimed is a ban on stem cell research. The number of half truths & lies that they have told about this issue is beyond disgusting. It is an INFAMNIA! plain & simple. They did this despite evidence presented to them that this is not needed & is plain & simple immoral.

In signing the bill on Thursday, Gov. Culver said the following: "Today, thousands of Iowans who have been affected by serious illness and disease now have hope."

I also received a letter from his office signed by him & Lt. Gov Patty Judge. To read the letter you would think the whole law lifted a ban on stem cell research, not the ban on cloning. The letter starts by saying "Thank you for your letter concerning stem cell research." The e-mail I sent him clearly stated that I opposed the lifting of the ban on cloning. He totally ignores that as he did at the signing.

After talking about support in the state for stem cell research (something I support using ethical forms of stem cells like adult & umbilical cord) he goes on to say: "Most importantly, lifting the outdated ban is supported by the thousands of Iowans suffering from diseases like cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's." You will notice how he uses the old bait & switch. He makes it sound like the ban is on stem cell research, not what it really is a ban on cloning. & then he goes on to make it sound like everyone in Iowan suffering from these diseases supports lifting the ban. As someone who has Type-2 Diabetes, I can guarentee you that I oppose lifting this ban. I would rather suffer from diabetes that have a cure found by tactics that rank down there with the experiments Nazi doctors did on Jewish prisoners before & during WW II.

He goes on to say: "Simply lifting the ban will not be enough." He then talks about creating a new research center. What he fails to mention is that the center will be for embryonic stem cell research.

In the last paragraph he finally gets arround to the cloning issue. "(H)uman cloning will remain banned, period. Stem cell research is not about creating lives". As I pointed out above, the process that up to now has been banned is SCNT. If it isn't cloning then why was there a need to ban it. (I will go more into SCNT below.)

I also sent an e-mail about the issue to my state representative, Pat Murphy. Here is the e-mail response that I got from Rep. Murphy. There are certain points I will hilight & show how wrong he is in the claims he is making. (I will color code his comments & the evidence to the contrary to make it clearer as to specific quotes of his I am disputting.)

"Mr. Troupe: I respect your opinion on this, and I'm sorry that we
cannot agree. I realize I'm no expert, but I'm told by scientists at
the University of Iowa that somatic cell nuclear transfer, which is what
this legislation will permit, authorizes the creation of embryonic stem
cell lines, which are not even close to actual embryos.
They say that,without this legislation, they cannot conduct the necessary research.
They tell me that there is no sperm involved in somatic cell nuclear
transfer, so there can be no embryo. These scientists say that these
new stem cell lines are much better (than adult cell lines) for
determining potential cures for diseases such as Parkinson's, juvenile
diabetes, cancer, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, and other diseases.
They say that we are perhaps five to ten years from major breakthroughs.
If there is credible hope that we can find cures for any of these
diseases, then I believe we can greatly reduce human suffering that has
touched my family and which touches many families. Also, noo one is
suggesting lifting the ban on human reproductive cloning.
Sincerely,
Pat "

Where do I begin? Lets start with what SCNT really is. According to the entry on Wikipedia this is how the proccess is descibed: "In SCNT the nucleus, which contains the organism's DNA, of a somatic cell (a body cell other than a sperm or egg cell) is removed and the rest of the cell is discarded. At the same time, the nucleus of an egg cell is removed. The nucleus of the somatic cell is then inserted into the enucleated egg cell. After being inserted into the egg, the somatic cell nucleus is reprogrammed by the host cell. The egg, now containing the nucleus of a somatic cell, is stimulated with an electric shock and the cell begins to divide. After many mitotic divisions in culture, this single cell forms a blastocyst (an early stage embryo with about 100 cells) with almost identical DNA to the original organism."

Note that the description describes the result as "an early stage embryo". The thing he says doesn't result. To end any doubt that it is an embryo produced later in the Wikipedia entry it says the following: "Proposals to use Nucleus Transfer techniques in human stem cell research raise a set of concerns beyond the moral status of any created embryo." Again it describes the process as creating an embryo.

Lets go back to the entry on Wikipedia about cloning in general. Section 4.4 titled Embryo begins thus; "Somatic cell nuclear transfer can also be used to create a clonal embryo. The most likely scenario for this is to produce embryos for use in research, particularly stem cell research. This process is also called "research cloning" or "therapeutic cloning."

Therapeutic cloning, also called "embryo cloning," is the production of human embryos for use in research. The goal of this process is not to create cloned human beings, but rather to harvest stem cells that can be used to study human development and to treat disease." I think that pretty much disproves the claim that what is created in no where near an embryo. Rather it IS an embryo created to harvest embryonic stem cells. (At least he was honest about the type of stem cell used.

As for his use of the term sperm to say that without it there can be no clone, the very fact that this entry clearly states that sperm cells aren't involved & yet there is still a clone created belies that claim.

AS for the claim of that without these types of stem cells they cannot conduct the necessary research, what are the real facts? According to the entry on SCNT "Only a handful of the labs in the world are currently using SCNT techniques in human stem cell research." If this type of research is so necessary then why are so few places using it in the places where they can?

As for the claim that embryonic stem cells are so much better, lets check the actaul records of what adult/umbilical cord stem cell rersearch has produced v what has come out of using embryonic stem cells. The best source of info on what has come out of stem cell research is found on The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics' website Do No Harm. So what are the results? Are these "new" embryonic stem cells lines truly better? How close are we really to major breakthroughs? Do we have to wait 5-10 yeras, or are some major breakthroughs, & some actual treatments already out there? & if so what type of stem cells have produced them.

I have posted several entries in the past about the breakthroughs using adult stem cells & the failure of embryonic stem cells to provide anything but tumors & worsening of the problem in the case of Parkinson's sufferers. (Parkinson's Research Is Set Back By Failure of Fetal Cell Implants). According to Do No Harm's scorecard there are 72 applications using adult stem cells (taken from Peer-Revued Studies) v 00 for embryonic/fetal. The website even has a partial list of Peer-Reviewed References for those adult stem cell applications.

As for HOW FAR AWAY WE ARE, the truth is, for using adult stem cells in treatments the future is here. & in some cases is OLD NEWS. Lets look at some of those successes. Just last week in India it was reported that a 23-yr old man "who was paralysed from below the waist, is now able to walk after the first successful stem cell therapy in India for spinal cord injuries was conducted at a hospital here." Gee! Sounds like a major breakthrough to me. Ask Patrizia Durante about how umbilical stem cells from her daughter were used to treat her lukemia. Ask Dennis Turner about the 5 year improvement in his Parkinson's symptoms that he got using an adult stem cell treatment. This is what he said at a US Senate hearing: “…I have no doubt that because of this treatment I’ve enjoyed five years of quality life that I feared had passed me by.” No breakthroughs yet? Then there is Gina Rugari. She was born with Krabbe’s Leukodystrophy. That is a guarenteed death sentance by the age of 2. Thanks to adult stem cell treatment she is alive many years later. As it says at Stem Cell Cures—and Failures in Humans: "Most importantly, adult stem cells have already been successfully used in human therapies for many years. As of this moment, NO therapies in humans have ever been successfully carried out using embryonic stem cells. New therapies using adult type stem cells, on the other hand, are being developed all the time." & as it also points out: "Adult stem cells are a “natural” solution. They naturally exist in our bodies, and they provide a natural repair mechanism for many tissues of our bodies. They belong in the microenvironment of an adult body, while embryonic stem cells belong in the microenvironment of the early embryo, not in an adult body, where they tend to cause tumors and immune system reactions. " Embryonic are much better? I think not.

Yet, even when presented with these facts Rep. Murphy (who claims to be pro-life & is Catholic) & governor have chosen evil over good, lies over the truth. Why? There are many reasons that are possible. I will only suggest 2: 1) Follow the money that came into their campaigns, 2) Note their party affiliation. Democratic.

What those reading this can do:

1. PRAY. I can't emphasize that enough. Pray that their eyes are open to the truth. That God will change their hearts & lead them to change the law. Pray that God will raise up people to run for these offices that are pro-life & will support only ethical stem cell research.

2. Write Rep. Murphy & Governor Culver as well as Iowa Senate President Kibbie. Let them know what type of impression about Iowa they are creating. Tell your friends to do the same.

You can contact Gov. Culver & Lt. Gov. Judge in 3 ways.

Write a letter. Their address is:

Office of The Governor and Lt. Governor

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA 50319-0001

Call them: 515.281.5211 Fax: (515) 281-6611

or via e-mail on their website (250 words maximum):

http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/

Pat Murphy

Speaker of the House

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA 50319

Call him: (515) 281-3221Fax: (515) 281-5868

or via e-mail: Pat.Murphy@legis.state.ia.us

John P. "Jack" Kibbie

President of the Senate

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA 50319

e-mail: john.kibbie@legis.state.ia.us

When you contact them be respectful, don't be rude or threatening. Be honest. Tell them why you know they are wrong, using specifics. Present them with the facts (documented) then challenge them to prove you wrong. & above all do not send anything anonymously. Have the courage of your convictions. I have received anonymous comments. That is usually the cowards way of taking a potshot that can't be defended against.

3. PRAY

4. If you do business with Iowa corporations or are consiedering bringing a convention to Iowa let them know that this will cause you to reconsider & take your business elsewhere. Tell those above this as well as the right person in the company &/or convention center, local tourism bureau depending on the circumstances. Money talks & if they see this will do more harm than good to the Iowa economy it will have an effect.

5. PRAY!!!!!

6. Get active. Support your local pro-life/right to life group, financially as well as by being involved. Support national groups like American Life League, Human Life International, Priests for Life as well as the others I have listed under Pro-Life in the right column of this blog. Support groups that only do ethical stem cell reseach such as those found at Support Alternatives.

7. PRAY!!!!!

8. It would be nice if someone with the money could run ads in Iowa's major papers with the truths about the lies told buy Gov. Culver, Rep. Murphy & the others who support cloning. People need to know the truth about stem cell research & what has already been done, what is working & what is not.

9. PRAY!!!!!!!!!!

I know this has been a long post. Thanks for reading through it. Please take some of the above actions.

& above all: PRAY!!!!!

Iowa Gov Signs Human Cloning, Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill

Senate bill eases limits on stem cell research (I love the fact that this article says several times that SCNT is cloning.)

Troubled Iowa Dreams

Is the US Falling Behind in Stem Cell Research?