Lupron

UN passes declaration favoring human cloning ban

The United Nations recently passed a declaration opposing all forms of human cloning as "incompatible with human dignity." This declaration was supported by the United States and led by Costa Rica. The declaration passed in the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Sixth Committee by a vote of 84 in favor, 34 against, and 37 abstaining. The declaration does not have the force of international law, though it does make a strong international statement against all forms of human cloning, including research cloning.

http://www.unorg/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID = 13576&Cr=cloning&Cr1 = &Kw1 = human + cloning&Kw2 = &Kw3

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/200S/gal3271.doc.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18205-2005Mar8.html

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/gal0333.doc.htm

Somatic Stem Cell Advances

Major scientific and therapeutic advances continue to be made in the field of research utilizing somatic (adult) stem cells. Stem cells derived from patients' bone marrow may be a key in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Stem cells that can develop into cardiac muscle have been found in the hearts of human newborns, and cardiac patients who received injections of stem cells from within their bodies showed significant improvement in their conditions. Additional stem cells have been found to exist within umbilical cords, which have already been found to be a rich source of stem cells.

http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page = article&id = 00240041998c09010172bc803800783 d&mode = news

http://www.webindial23.com/news/showdetails.asp?id = 66078&n_ date=20050211&cat = Health

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-02/uocf-usc021005.php

http://health.myway.com/art/id/523894.html

http ://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename = thestar/Layout/Article_Type 1&c = Article&cid = 1107903011703&call_pageid = 970599119419

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55369-2005Febl.html

http ://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type = healthNews&storyID = 7428791

http://www2.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?id = 117815&D = 18&M = 2&Y=2005

http://health.myway.com/art/id/524154.html

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/11015097.htm

Human-animal hybrids

Experiments continue in the Unites States and elsewhere toward the creation of various forms of human-animal hybrids. A recent University of Nevada study injected human embryonic stem cells into fetal sheep, with the resulting sheep growing organs that were part-human. A similar experiment was reported in 2003 using pig fetuses. Bioethicists across the spectrum of opinion are asking at what point such experiments end, including questions about genetic crosses between humans and animals and children who are "mostly human."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/24/eveningnews/main676424.shtml

Risks to women in embryo cloning

Some of the risks inherent in human cloning have been little considered either by scientists who support research cloning or by many bioethicists in considering the ethical implications of such a practice. The risks to women who would serve as donors for the eggs needed to carry out such experimentation are now being brought to light, including the risks involved in taking Lupron, which stimulates the body to produce extra eggs and the surgery required to harvest them.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/02/25/risks_to_ women_in_embryo_cloning/

http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2005/03/10/cloning_sparks_ concern_over_egg_donors/

FDA suspends gene therapy experiments

After recent reports of cancer and death associated with gene therapy experimentation, the United States Food and Drug Administration has halted a number of gene therapy trials. The field of gene therapy has been thought to hold enormous promise for patients with genetic disorders, but the number of treatments resulting from gene therapy experiments have been few in comparison to the number of failures, which have come to be associated with the development of various forms of cancer. It is unknown if or when the trials will resume.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3926-2005Mar3.html

Federal lawmakers move to expand embryonic stem cell research funding

New bills in the US House and Senate that have been recently introduced would alter President Bush's policy on federal funding for embryonic stem cells. The current policy provides federal funding to researchers using embryonic stem cell lines created prior to August 2001, and the bills would expand the scope of lines available for federal funding.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30588-2005Feb16.html

Fight in Massachusetts over cloning policy

Massachusetts Governor Romney has proposed to ban human cloning research within the state, a move that has caused much debate and discussion in the biotech-heavy state. The move upset researchers at Harvard who have been working toward human cloning experimentation, but the Governor stated that he could not "justify the creation of life for experimentation and destruction."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/16/kennedy_rips_ romney_over_stem_cell_policy/

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.thomasl6feb16,1,15217.story

http://www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.asp?ref=/lopez/lopez200S02110936.asp

Missouri moves to ban human cloning

The Senate Judiciary Committee in the state of Missouri has approved a bill that would ban human cloning for research. Senate Bill 160 passed the committee by a 7-2 vote, but Republican Governor Blunt has threatened to veto it if it passes.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/sciencemedicine/story/D5B368D43F227 2FC86256FA9001BOACF?OpenDocument&Headline = Ban + on + some + stem + cell + work + moves+ ahead

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/politics/4197176/detail.html

US refuses to issue patent on human-animal hybrid

The US Patent and Trademark Office has chosen not to issue a patent to Dr. Stuart Newman for a human-animal hybrid, indicating that such an invention would be too close to a human being to be considered patentable. Newman had applied for the patent in hopes that it would set a legal precedent under which human-animal hybrids, also called chimeras, would be considered unpatentable under US law. A recent article in National Geographic also highlights the issue of human-animal hybrids within the world of emerging issues in biotechnology research and policy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19781-2005Feb12.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0125_050125_chimeras.html

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/ArticIes/000/000/005/204bqkvl.asp

Dolly cloner receives license to clone human embryos

Ian Wilmut, the researcher most well-known for his research that led to the development of Dolly, the cloned sheep, has applied for and been approved for a patent to conduct cloning experimentation in human beings. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) of the United Kingdom approved the request for human cloning research, and the experiments to look at motor neurone disease are expected to begin soon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9118-2005Feb8.html

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id = 4105125

Copyright Bioethics Press Summer 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved