Passage Of Stem Cell Bill Spotlights Need For Federal Oversight

The lack of comprehensive federal oversight of stem cell research and other human biotechnologies has created a glaring regulatory vacuum.

The following statement can be attributed to Richard Hayes, Executive Director of the Center for Genetics and Society (CGS):

"Today's Senate vote to expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research is a step forward. The fact that liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans were able to come to agreement on an issue that until now has been so divisive is a hopeful sign.

"Still, much remains to be done if the benefits of stem cell research are to be realized and its risks avoided. The lack of comprehensive federal oversight of stem cell research and other human biotechnologies has created a glaring regulatory vacuum. We urgently need bipartisan initiatives directed at formulating such comprehensive regulatory policies. A first step towards creating the conditions that would encourage such initiatives would be for President Bush to sign HR 810 into law."

Marcy Darnovsky, CGS Associate Executive Director, added that:

"One problematic aspect of today's vote was the approval of the bill on alternative stem cell techniques. It could encourage the procedure known as 'altered nuclear transfer' (ANT), which involves the use of cloning and genetic modification procedures to create non-viable embryos. ANT would require large numbers of women's eggs, and could open the door to producing cloned and genetically modified children -- practices that are opposed by large majorities of Americans."

For background, see Stem Cells and Public Policy, a booklet authored by the staff of the Center for Genetics and Society and published in June 2006 by The Century Foundation: http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=PB&pubid=566.

# # #

The Center for Genetics and Society is a non-profit, public interest organization advocating responsible societal governance of the new human biotechnologies. The Center supports human embryonic stem cell research and public funding for it, but has raised numerous concerns about the conduct, oversight, and implications of stem cell research. For more information, visit our website at www.genetics-and-society.org

Contact:
Parita Shah
510-625-0819 x312