Stem Cell Research and a Ban on Human Cloning

Prohibition of stem cell research and human cloning Some biotechnology companies claim that the ban on human embryo production by cloning interferes with important research for the manufacture of "stem cells" to cure various diseases ing. Recording, 2/5/98, S425]. To correctly view this claim: Cloning needs to be a source of a "custom stem cell line" genetically exactly matching each individual patient with a particular disorder. However, this requires that each patient undergoes somatic cell nuclear transfer and produces one or more living human embryos that are genetically identical to the patient's same twin sister or brother.

The EU supports funding for embryonic stem cell research (if at all possible), but prohibits funding for human cloning. There is no legal prohibition on therapeutic cloning, but the EU will not fund research using SCNT to create embryos. It allows countries to determine the funding for embryonic stem cell research within their borders and they are carefully managed, peer reviewed, scientifically sound, sustainable and ethical . · Reproductive and therapeutic cloning is not particularly funded by the federal government. However, if these cell lines were created before August 9, 2001, human embryonic stem cell research will be funded by the federal government. Private industry research is not affected by these policies and enables the creation of new stem cell lines

The European Commission has several treaties on human embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. The convention on the Council's 1997 human rights in biomedicine emphasizes "the need to respect humanity as an individual and as a member of humanity." The cloning protocol attempts any intervention to try to make genetically identical humans, whether living or dead, which prohibits reproductive cloning, but does not necessarily prohibit therapeutic cloning The Council of Europe has entrusted the interpretation of "the existence of humans" to the Diet and enabled therapeutic cloning in places where therapeutic cloning is permitted (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyrus, Moldova). , Romania and San Marino), this convention is interpreted as meaning that they allow human embryonic stem cell cloning but prohibit reproductive and therapeutic cloning