Republican Party Platform Change: They now officially oppose hESC research

[Steven Edwards]

For those who care:

On 27 August, the Republican Platform Committee approved an amendment by Mary Summa of North Carolina, one of its 100 or so delegates. It changed "and" to "or" so that the platform now calls for a ban on "the creation of or experimentation on human embryos for research purposes" (emphasis added). The change is expected to win final approval during the Republican convention this week in St Paul, Minnesota.

By unlinking the creation of embryos from experimentation on them, the amendment effectively proposes banning a huge swathe of research — from attempts to improve preservation of frozen embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics to the privately financed creation of new stem-cell lines.

The Republican National Committee last week declined to comment on the platform, saying it was not yet official.

The change highlights a rift between social conservatives and Republican moderates such as Michael Castle of Delaware, a Republican member of the House of Representatives and a leading supporter of lifting the funding restrictions. The change, Castle says, "was drafted by people who don't even understand the advances that have been made in embryonic stem-cell research and its future potential".

But David Christensen, the leading lobbyist on embryo-related issues at the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian advocacy group in Washington DC, praised the change as "very consistent with the traditional Republican platform that calls for the protection of the dignity of all human life regardless of stage of development".

doi:10.1038/455012a

[antiquity]

By unlinking the creation of embryos from experimentation on them, the amendment effectively proposes banning a huge swathe of research — from attempts to improve preservation of frozen embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics to the privately financed creation of new stem-cell lines.

So privately funded ESCR will be illegal too?

[Steven Edwards]

Sounds that way.

[-scott-]

...that calls for the protection of the dignity of all human life regardless of stage of development".

Okay. This is retarded. How about our current dignity and that of so many others?

I'm glad there are some who speak up against it. The others urgently need to be educated before making decisions that have such extreme impact.

[antiquity]

Originally Posted by Steven Edwards

Sounds that way.

Sigh, there goes Gerons research. They're taking this anti-science thing to new heights. So even states won't be able to fund it?

[Lazlo]

Would this shut down Geron for good? Would it affect Dr. Wise's research? I get the feeling that people in the industry are "holding their breath" waiting on the results of this election. If the Republicans win it, I fear there will be a mass exodus of professionals from stem cell research to other fields.

[Rick1]

Check yourselves, Chicken Little's...
Party platforms are not binding - And they are certainly not law.

[Steven Edwards]

Rick's right, actually. But if they somehow regain control this year, their agenda will be clear.

iPS research will still be allowed. That's probably why they made the change.

[Eric.S]

now that it has been released that McCain's vp's 17 year old daughter is pregnant there's no question that these people are very anti abortion so i wouldn't be surprised if they take that platform to the extremes.

[lunasicc42]

ignorant Assholes. And to think, I am a republican