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MARYLAND: Ban On Human Cloning Mar. 17, 2004 For complete coverage of the 2004 legislative section, go to http://www.gazette.net/annapolis2004/ Ban on human cloning Maryland's biotech industry is opposing a proposed ban on human cloning, arguing that it would impede vital research on diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's. Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Dist. 7) of Cockeysville has proposed a wholesale ban on human cloning for any reason. "It's all right with animals," Harris told the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Matters Committee last week. "But before you bring the technique to human beings, we need to take a step back and have a full discussion of the ethics." But scientists warned that the bill would prevent researchers from harvesting stem cells from cloned embryos, a promising new development in the research of genetic diseases. Patrick Kelly, vice president for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, said his group agrees with Harris that cloning embryos is improper for reproductive purposes, but should be allowed to go forward for "therapeutic purposes." But Harris argued that embryonic stem cell research has yielded little benefit, and that the technology is advancing faster than discussion of the ethical questions surrounding it. "Because the human embryo [has] a set of chromosomes, it is felt by many to be a human being," he said. That's the real issue, said Jack C. Sprague, lobbyist for the Technology Council of Maryland: Where does life begin? "Andy Harris believes life begins in a petri dish," Sprague said, explaining that the industry believes it begins once "the product" is put into a womb. Ehrlich supports federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, a spokesman said, but is waiting to see the final version of Harris' bill before taking an official position. Aris Melissaratos, state secretary of Business and Economic Development, said he has expressed his views internally but "can't go against the administration's position." Maryland needs to have more stem cell research, Melissaratos said. But the question is, "Where do you stop?" — Catherine Dolinski and Steven T. Dennis SOURCE: Maryland Gazette Newspapers, MD http://www.gazette.net/200412/montgomerycty/state/206838-1.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn