England passes legislation to allow cloning of human cells

By Hemesh Patel
Daily Bruin Staff

On Monday, the British House of Lords passed legislation to
legalize the cloning of human embryos no older than 14 days.

The embryos will be used to conduct research on stem cells
““ developing cells, which can be programmed into different
cell types under certain conditions.

“The potential for doing research on human embryonic stem
cells is huge,” said Eric Vilain, UCLA professor of human
genetics. “Not only will it help us in understanding human
development, it can possibly lead to treatments of deadly
diseases.”

UCLA currently uses stem cells with its research in areas
ranging from cancer to bone marrow transplants.

Research on these stem cells can lead to a greater understanding
and possible treatments for a number of diseases including
Parkinsons, diabetes, and leukemia, according to Vilain.

Scientists will be able to use numerous “growth
factors” to program the embryonic stem cells into ones that
can hinder the effects of diseased cells.

Wayne Grody, professor in the UCLA School of Medicine, said the
new technology can even be used to produce organs for
transplantation.

“We can actually form organs in the lab or inject stem
cells giving rise to certain organs and allow them to grow in the
body,” he said.

But the decision in Britain has led to turmoil in Europe and the
United States by anti-abortion activists and government
officials.

Opponents argue that stem cells can be obtained from adults just
as easily as they can be harvested from embryos.

Scientists say, however, that it is much easier to locate and
program the cells in the embryo.

“The cells in the embryo are less (developed), so they can
take up many different pathways,” Grody said.

Some scientists say fear is the driving force between much of
the opposition.

“The benefits of this are obviously immense, but the
opposition lies in the fact that people are now beginning to
construct embryos for the sole purpose of harvesting cells,”
said Volker Hartenstein, professor of molecular, cell and
developmental biology.

Hartenstein said those who oppose the legislation are afraid
because they think scientists will, in the future, go too far with
this technology.

Spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop
of Canterbury, are warning lawmakers that this is the first step
toward cloning fully developed human beings.

“We are civilized enough to draw a line,”
Hartenstein said. “A 14-day-old human embryo looks like a
clump of cells ““ I don’t see it as any different than
cloning a mouse embryo.”

Hartenstein said he sees the European legislation as no surprise
because researchers already use human embryos in their research. It
is legal to use embryos which are the byproducts of in-vitro
fertilization, which is the attempt to form test-tube babies.

He said the sort of cloning that was passed in Europe probably
occurs in the U.S., either illegally or with loopholes in the
law.

“If it is happening in this country, it is being done in a
commercial center,” Grody said.

Grody and Hartenstein said it is difficult to determine whether
commercial companies follow federal laws regulating this type of
research.

UCLA, for example, must abide by federal law because its
research is federally funded. Scientists have access to this
technology but at the same time they must follow federal mandate,
he added.

The American Society for Human Genetics, an organization that
represents 6,000 human geneticists, strongly supports performing
research on human stem cells.

Last week, the president of the organization encouraged
geneticists to counter the numerous letters from anti-abortion
groups protesting this type of research.

While British Prime Minister Tony Blair has strongly supported
this technology, many in the United States say that president Bush
is sure to oppose it.

“I am absolutely sure this type of legislation will not
pass in the United States,” Hartenstein said. “Maybe it
will go through after four years.”

The House of Lords passed the legislation Monday by 212 to 92
votes after it passed in Britain’s other legislative body,
the House of Commons late last year.