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Wednesday August 1 2:14 PM ET Canada Asks Ban on Cloning, Not Stem Cell Research OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government is seeking a broad ban on human cloning similar to that approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, but would allow controversial stem cell research from human embryos. ``We've put forward what we think is the appropriate balance, on the one hand allowing for regulated stem cell research but on the other hand not allowing for the cloning of embryos,'' Catherine Lappe, spokeswoman for Health Minister Allan Rock, said on Wednesday. The U.S. legislation, passed by 265-162 and backed by President Bush (news - web sites), would not permit human cloning for stem cell research, but does not deal with the question of whether such research should be allowed on existing embryos. Bush has yet to pronounce on stem cell research, but Lappe said she understood the United States was leaning against it. Rock's view is that stem cell research should be allowed up to 14 days after conception, on in vitro embryos created for reproduction but not actually implanted in a woman. But he would not allow the creation of embryos -- including via in vitro fertilization, which differs from cloning -- solely for research. Abortion opponents say that life begins at conception and that since extracting embryonic stem cells destroys the embryos, embryonic stem cell research should be banned. Rock put forward his views in May in draft legislation submitted to the Health Committee of the Canadian House of Commons, Parliament's elected chamber. The plan is for the committee to hold hearings on it in the autumn and present a report in January, which Rock would use to craft final legislation. The Canadian draft legislation would also allow scientists to add nonhuman cells to existing human embryos or add human cells to animal embryos, creating so-called ``chimeras.'' Government officials said any altered human embryos would also have to be destroyed 14 days after their creation. SOURCE: Yahoo Daily News / Reuters http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010801/sc/health_congress_cloning_canada_dc_1.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn