the folllowing is forwarded from the Coalition for the Advancement of
Medical Research (CAMR) and umbrella organization of patient groups,(
such as the Parkinson's Action Network,  Christopher Reeve Paralysis
Foundation,  the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, etc.)
scientists, universities and
research centers that advocates for stem cell research.
More info on their web site : www.stemcellfunding.org
Linda

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 21:40:43  -0700
Subject: ACTION ALERT

There will be a hearing in the Senate on Tuesday, February 5th, to
discuss
both therapeutic and reproductive cloning.  Somatic cell nuclear transfer
(SCNT), commonly referred to as therapeutic cloning, involves the use of
a
donor's unfertilized egg and a patient's own cells.  The research could
allow a patient's own genetic material to be used to develop stem cell
therapies specifically tailored to that individual's medical condition.
Reproductive cloning is the implantation of that egg into a woman's womb
for
the purpose of creating a newborn genetically identical to another human
being.  Given the scientific potential of SCNT, CAMR supports efforts to
protect important areas of medical research, and supports efforts to
prohibit reproductive cloning.

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has introduced the Human Cloning
Prohibition
Act of 2001, S. 1758, that would ban reproductive cloning while allowing
research to continue.  Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) has introduced two
pieces of legislation entitled the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001,
S.
790 and S. 1899, that would ban all cloning, including research; imprison
researchers; and ban the importation of therapeutic products developed in
other countries using SCNT.
---------------------------------------
***FOR NEW YORK STATE:
Please take this opportunity to call Senator Charles Schumer at
202-224-6542, and urge him to attend the hearing and express his support
for
therapeutic cloning.
------------------------------------------

For more information on SCNT and cloning, please visit our website at
www.stemcellfunding.org, or read the most recent report by the National
Academies of Science on the Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human
Reproductive Cloning, at www.nap.edu.

Thank you for taking action now.

THE VALUE OF SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER


Stem cell research opens up completely new opportunities in Regenerative
Medicine. Two types of research will be required to realize its potential
-
research on the controlled differentiation of stem cells into the
replacement cells and tissues required for therapy and research on
Somatic
Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) to ensure that replacement cells and tissues
are immunologically compatible with the patient.

SCNT is an important subset of stem cell research, and could allow
researchers to develop stem cell therapies that are specifically tailored
to
an individual's medical condition and that do not trigger an immune
rejection response.  This holds promise for patients with diseases such
as:
Parkinson's Disease; stroke; heart disease; ALS; various cancers; and
many
others.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)

*       SCNT involves removing the nucleus of an egg cell, replacing it with
the material from the nucleus of a "somatic cell" (a skin, heart, nerve
or
any other non-germ cell), and stimulating this cell to begin dividing;

*       This egg cell is never fertilized by sperm, and the genetic material
within the cell is virtually identical to the genetic material extracted
from the skin or other cell.

*       Once the cells begins dividing, stem cells can be extracted from it
5-6 days later, just as they can be extracted from embryos created
through
in vitro fertilization.

*       By using SCNT, scientists hope to understand how the protein factors
in the egg cell cause these already specialized somatic cells to become
stem
cells.  Once we learn how this cell "de-differentiation" occurs, we will
no
longer need to use egg cells.

*       The sole purpose of this technology is to develop treatments for
diseases and medical conditions.

Advantages of SCNT

*       Because of SCNT, science could advance to a point where millions of
people will have access to life saving therapies developed using their
own
DNA.  The National Academy of Sciences has identified nuclear transfer as
important technology to be pursued.

*       When cells, including donated organs, tissues or blood, are
transplanted or transfused, the recipient's body mounts a rejection
response, attacking these cells as foreign.

*       If a person's own somatic cells were the source of stem cells used
to create therapeutic cells or tissues, it is believed that immunological
rejection could be avoided since the cells and tissues would exactly
match
those of the person who donated the somatic cell nucleus.

*       SCNT could allow an individual's own cells to be used to treat or
cure that person's disease, without risk of introducing foreign cells
that
may be rejected.

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