Society

Embryonic Stem Cell Research A Step Closer To Reproductive Cloning

Senator Ron Boswell, the Leader of The Nationals in the Senate, at a breakfast function said that a vote for cloning in the Queensland parliament, is not just a vote on creating a human embryo to destroy it but it will give the world the technology for reproductive cloning.

Senator Ron Boswell, the Leader of The Nationals in the Senate, at a breakfast function said that a vote for cloning in the Queensland parliament, is not just a vote on creating a human embryo to destroy it but it will give the world the technology for reproductive cloning.

At the function, the senator said that he strongly opposed embryo cloning. He believed that a vote for embryo cloning could lead to reproductive cloning. To him the technology in both fields is the same.

“When the Qld parliament votes on cloning later this year, they will not just be voting on whether Qld researchers will be allowed to create a human embryo to destroy it for its stem cells,” said Senator Boswell. “They could literally be voting on whether or not to give the world the technology for reproductive human cloning. The technology is the same.”

Instead the senator advocates adult stem cell research which he said was good science since at this point in time embryonic stem cell research had not started clinical trials.

"We can have faith in these (adult stem cell) scientists to deliver good science and therapies efficiently and ethically,” said Senator Boswell. "The Lockhart report found that embryonic stem cell research findings have not yet translated into any clinical trials or treatments... Most of these trials have involved adult stem cells because, at this stage, embryonic stem cell research has not reached the stage needed to start clinical trials (i.e., proof of principle of a safe and efficacious treatment in animal models)."

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