Some of the state’s most powerful politicians, including
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and L.A. Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, met at the UCLA Neuroscience Research
Building on Aug. 23 to announce their bipartisan support of a
federal bill that would ban reproductive human cloning without
harming embryonic stem cell research.
Schwarzenegger said Californians showed their support last
November for stem cell research by approving Proposition 71, which
provides $3 billion in state tax-exempt bonds to fund such
California-based research for 10 years.
The Republican governor also said he supports a U.S. Senate bill
co-sponsored by Feinstein, a Democrat, that would make human
reproductive cloning or attempts to clone humans a federal crime.
California already has a state law banning human reproductive
cloning
A competing bill co-sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas,
also would make reproductive human cloning a federal crime, but it
would include a ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer, or
therapeutic cloning, which Feinstein’s bill would not.
“The Brownback bill is not designed to promote research
and it would stop the California initiative in its tracks,”
Feinstein said during the news conference.
Feinstein also urged the Senate to pass a House bill approved by
that chamber in May that would expand the number of stem cell lines
eligible for federal funding for research.
Dr. Jerome Zack, an associate academic director for the UCLA
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, said current stem
cell research has the potential for therapeutic benefit, but
emphasized the need for regulation of cloning.
“Clearly, almost all of us feel any research that leads to
cloning of a human should be outlawed,” Zack said.
Even though human cloning would be outlawed, research using
human stem cells has shown the potential to provide new treatments
and cures for spinal cord-injury patients and those suffering from
juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and other debilitating
diseases.
These genetically identical stem cells can develop into any
other type of cell in the body.
Somatic stem cells are theoretically more effective than adult
stem cells, which are specific to certain parts of the body, such
as bone marrow or blood, because the host’s genetic code can
be used to generate new, healthy cells from them, Zack said.
The only place where this research has taken place so far is
South Korea, and because procedures have been established there, it
should take less time to develop technology for research here, Zack
said.
The UCLA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine was formed
earlier this year by bringing together experts from several fields
in order to further research of stem cells, and involves
individuals from entities across campus ““ including the
nanosystems institute, the medical school and the law school
““ to aid each other in finding a way to make stem cell
research possible.
“We’re very positive on the potential of these
cells. The public seems to be very supportive. Scientists are
extremely supportive. The potential is amazing,” Zack
said.
U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, also attended the press
conference to support Feinstein’s bill. Dreier said he has
talked to President Bush repeatedly about the subject.
“We should pursue all avenues of research,” Dreier
said. “There is bipartisan commitment on this
issue.”
Villaraigosa, a UCLA alumnus, said the benefits from stem cell
research would be felt far beyond the state.
“We need Washington to stop playing politics that could
impact California’s efforts to lead the nation in life-saving
research,” the mayor said.
Paul Berg, a Nobel laureate and professor emeritus at Stanford
University, said he supports the ban on human reproductive cloning,
but added the government should not hinder scientists’
ability to do research.
“We are not cloning people, we are cloning cells to treat
patients,” he said.
Candace Coffee, a UCLA graduate student who suffers from a rare
ailment called Devic’s disease, urged Congress to pass
Feinstein’s legislation.
“Somatic cell nuclear transfer offers a chance for a
cure,” she said in a choking voice. “It’s a
chance for me to lead a normal life. Don’t take away my
hope.”
With reports from Bruin wire services.