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I'd like to try to clarify what i believe are the core issue areas related to the current cloning debate. The topic of cloning research obviously strikes a deep chord in society with some politicians trying to criminalize it in an attempt to just make it go away. I believe we need to discuss it but in order to do so, we must be clear about our issues, in our attempt to respect and understand divergent opinions, and to control it appropriately. To greatly simplify, there are really three issues that are being examined all of which have legal, moral, and societal questions associated with them: 1) the source of the material used in research. In the cloning/stem cell/brave new world debate the material could range (in order of ascending controversy) from a living human cell such as a skin cell, a human egg or sperm, a fertilized egg and sperm, or tissue from an aborted fetus. 2) then there is the issue of how any of the above specimins are acquired - is the material widely available? who owns it? was the material a by-product of something or was it created expressly for these purposes? was there any coercion or any possibility of coercion or inappropriate acquisition of these materials? were there risks involved in the acquisition and who bore the risks? is the process for acquisition regulated? etc, etc. 3) and lastly what are scientist using the material for? is this a desirable outcome? if the desired outcome is achieved, is there a system already in place or do we need to create one to regulate a new outcome? will society and indviduals in society be helped or harmed with this outcome? I am hoping it is helpful to have these different categories so the discussions are using the same language. If you are morally opposed to sperm for example being used in research that is a different discussion than the ethics of creating a living human clone out of any material. Helpful or more confusing? I'm not sure but I do know we have to get ourselves out of this quagmire before the government slams the door shut on our future. -Lynn Fielder ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn