New Jersey Passes Human Cloning Bill

[Guest guest]

http://www.betterhumans.com/Print/article.aspx?articleID=2004-01-05-7

 

 

 

 

 

New Jersey Passes "Human Cloning Bill"

 

By Betterhumans Staff1/5/2004 • Hits: 599 • Comments: 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Jersey has legalized embryonic stem cell research in legislation that opponents call "a human cloning bill."

New Jersey Governor James McGreevey signed the bill on Sunday. "Despite facing overwhelming opposition from many fronts along the way, today we celebrate a great day for families, for research, and for the hope that miracles may be just around the corner," he said.

The move makes New Jersey just the second US state with such legislation. A similar bill was passed in California in September 2002.

Stem cell bills are currently under consideration in Illinois and New York.

Embryo research

The bill legalizes research involving human embryonic stem cells, human embryonic germ cells and human adult stem cells from any source while banning human cloning and making it punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

Embryonic stem cells are considered most potent for regenerative medicine, but they are controversial.

In 2001 President George W. Bush limited federally funded researchers to using embryonic cell lines that existed before August 9, 2001.

Last February, the US House voted 241 to 155 for the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, which prohibits cloning both for reproduction and for the creation of embryos for research.

The New Jersey bill was supported by patient advocates, including Christopher Reeve, during more than a year of deliberation in the state legislature. It passed the state assembly by a 41 to 31 vote with seven abstentions and passed the senate last December.

In a statement, New Jersey Republican congressmen Chris Smith, Mike Ferguson and Scott Garrett said that the bill "would not only allow the cloning of human beings for research purposes, but would also allow cloned human embryos to be implanted into a woman's womb, allow the cloned human to develop to the fetal stage, and then use this human child for research where he or she could be killed for their 'spare parts.'"

 

2002-2004 Betterhumans

All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of this article is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Betterhumans.

 

Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes