Dear Debra,

You state your ethical convictions quite eloquently. There's just one
problem. The Brownack bill makes it illegal to research or receive treatment
from SCNT. SCNT (aka `Therapeutic Cloning') is about saving and improving
lives.  It is fundamentally different from human reproductive cloning; SCNT
produces stem cells, not babies. In SCNT, the nucleus of a donor's
unfertilized egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus of a patient's own
cells, like a skin, heart, or nerve cell.  These types of cells are called
somatic cells. The goal of SCNT is to develop stem cells that will not be
rejected or destroyed by the patient's immune system. NO sperm is used in
this procedure. The cells are not transplanted into a womb. The unfertilized
egg cells are stored in a petri dish to become a source of stem cells that
can be used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. SCNT aims to treat
or cure patients by creating tailor-made, genetically identical cells that
their bodies won't reject.  In other words, SCNT could allow patients to be
cured using their own DNA.

There are many different kinds of cloning, most of which are commonly used
medical tools. Cloning simply means making copies of a single molecule,
cell, virus or bacterium. Over the last decade, various types of cloning
have allowed scientists and researchers to: Develop powerful new drugs;
Produce insulin and useful bacteria in the lab; Track the origins of
biological weapons; Catch criminals and free innocent people.

I, too, oppose reproductive cloning, which aims to create human beings by
cloning human embryos. In fact patient advocacy groups and leading
scientists, including the National Academy of Sciences, and a huge majority
of the American people agree that human reproductive cloning should not be
pursued.

But please, don't get the SCNT confused with human reproductive cloning.
That would be like saying you believe in re-incarnation.....   at the
molecular level!

Regards,

Terry Bowers

----- Original Message -----
From: "Debra Sutton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 4:24 PM
Subject: A Different View


> I am a fellow PWP.  I have listened patiently over the last several weeks,
and especially today to peoples' support of stem cell research and now
therapeutic human cloning.  Allow me to share a different view.
> I am a 47 year old mother of 3 boys and I have PD.  I share the
frustrations over dealing with the symptoms of the disease and the side
effects of the medicines.  I also share the same future.  I too desperately
hope and pray for a cure for Parkinson's, but not at the expense of
violating God's Word and the sanctity of human life.  I support President
Bush's position on human cloning and I support Brownback's bill for many of
the reasons that President Bush listed.  I will not take the time to argue
his points as I feel he did a good job of that on his own, and I am sure you
are all aware of his arguments.  My position comes from my belief that God's
Word is absolutely true, that His Word never changes , that it is the
standard we use to determine right from wrong and that the truth does not
change just because our circumstances change. I believe God made man in His
own image, that He sanctified human life and that He knows exactly when
"life" begins, which is at conception.  I therefore believe that creating
human life in order to destroy it,at any stage, and for any reason, however
noble it may seem, is wrong!  And since His Truth is absolute and does not
change then right and wrong do not change just because I now have
Parkinson's.
> Much has been said about those who oppose therapeutic human cloning being
motivated by "fear and ignorance".  My motives in opposing this are not fear
and ignorance, but rather faith and hope.  Faith that God is bigger than
Parkinson's Disease and faith that if we place obedience to His Word above
all else that He will lead us to a cure for Parkinson's without us having to
destroy life to do it.  And Hope that scientists are intelligent enough and
morally responsible enough to seek and pursue other avenues for a cure that
do not violate God's Word.  I have confidence that they are and that they
will do just that.
> I realize that my position is probably not going to be very popular on
this list. That's okay. I have read and considered all of your letters and I
respect your right to hold to a different view. I hope that you will give me
the same consideration.
>
> Trusting Him!
> Debra
>
>
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