EU Refuses Stem Cell Funds

antiquity · 08-09-2001, 10:55 AM

EU Refuses Human Cloning Funds
Thursday, August 09, 2001 11:38 a.m. EDT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The European Commission will not finance any projects involving the cloning of humans or stem cell research and hopes all 15 European Union members will forbid work in such areas, its research commissioner said.

In an interview published Thursday in the Financial Times Deutschland, Philippe Busquin said cloning has no scientific value and could damage the standing of science as a whole.

``This question deeply concerns human life as we know it, and presents us with a pressing ethical problem,'' Busquin was quoted as saying.

Busquin, a Belgian, also said none of the $15.9 billion approved in February for research over the next four years would go to projects involving cloning or stem cell research.

Nine EU member states have passed laws banning research on stem cells and human embryos and the commission has urged the remaining members of the European Union to follow suit.

Germany and France, which have been actively pursuing international legislation to ban such research, formally presented a joint initiative to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday pushing for a U.N. treaty to ban human cloning.

In cloning, genes from an adult cell are implanted into a human egg from which the key genetic material has been removed. The egg is then cultured into an embryo and implanted in a woman's uterus. The offspring would have only the genes from the adult cell. The result would be a genetic duplicate of the cell donor.

A bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives that would outlaw human cloning and penalize offenders with prison sentences and heavy fines. No votes have been taken on a companion bill in the Senate.

Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, was created in Scotland in 1997. Since then, cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals have been cloned.

Chris Chappell · 08-09-2001, 11:20 AM

I can't, and maybe refuse to, believe that this science will not continue and has not already progressed to the point, although maybe not publicly, whereby the application to humans in some way, shape or form is not 2 to 3 yrs. away.

This is cutting edge molecular science, the newest frontier, and I don't believe that the scientific community regardless of its country's legislation or political stance will stop it. The potential is too great, scientists too curious and public demand too strong.

It's funny. When I think about it these issues being hotly discussed and debated today won't even be on the radar screen even 2 years from now. Stem cell research and its invariable offspring will be as natural as AIDS research, cancer research, etc. The unknown factor will be if we (sci community) have enough money being pumped into our corner?

I guess, as always, time will tell. I'm hoping that its sooner rather than later. Please.

Norm · 08-09-2001, 11:34 AM

I was hoping Europe wasn't as close minded as the USA. The anti- stem cell lobby has successfully managed to link cloning in all its forums with stem cell research. Alot of the fault can also be laid at those cloning fanatics that can't wait to be the first to clone a human!

George78 · 08-10-2001, 08:28 AM

Yes, we're all sorry about what Mr Busquin said. We will react as much as we can. Remember that the first decision of Mr Bush was banning such research. I think that article has to be taken cautiously. Mr Busquin is not making any differences between reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Neither between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. We have to wait to have an official decision... George

08-09-2001, 10:55 AM	#1
antiquity Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 14,540	EU Refuses Stem Cell Funds EU Refuses Human Cloning Funds Thursday, August 09, 2001 11:38 a.m. EDT FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The European Commission will not finance any projects involving the cloning of humans or stem cell research and hopes all 15 European Union members will forbid work in such areas, its research commissioner said. In an interview published Thursday in the Financial Times Deutschland, Philippe Busquin said cloning has no scientific value and could damage the standing of science as a whole. ``This question deeply concerns human life as we know it, and presents us with a pressing ethical problem,'' Busquin was quoted as saying. Busquin, a Belgian, also said none of the $15.9 billion approved in February for research over the next four years would go to projects involving cloning or stem cell research. Nine EU member states have passed laws banning research on stem cells and human embryos and the commission has urged the remaining members of the European Union to follow suit. Germany and France, which have been actively pursuing international legislation to ban such research, formally presented a joint initiative to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday pushing for a U.N. treaty to ban human cloning. In cloning, genes from an adult cell are implanted into a human egg from which the key genetic material has been removed. The egg is then cultured into an embryo and implanted in a woman's uterus. The offspring would have only the genes from the adult cell. The result would be a genetic duplicate of the cell donor. A bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives that would outlaw human cloning and penalize offenders with prison sentences and heavy fines. No votes have been taken on a companion bill in the Senate. Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, was created in Scotland in 1997. Since then, cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals have been cloned.

08-09-2001, 11:20 AM	#2
Chris Chappell Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 7,035	Cloning and research will continue I can't, and maybe refuse to, believe that this science will not continue and has not already progressed to the point, although maybe not publicly, whereby the application to humans in some way, shape or form is not 2 to 3 yrs. away. This is cutting edge molecular science, the newest frontier, and I don't believe that the scientific community regardless of its country's legislation or political stance will stop it. The potential is too great, scientists too curious and public demand too strong. It's funny. When I think about it these issues being hotly discussed and debated today won't even be on the radar screen even 2 years from now. Stem cell research and its invariable offspring will be as natural as AIDS research, cancer research, etc. The unknown factor will be if we (sci community) have enough money being pumped into our corner? I guess, as always, time will tell. I'm hoping that its sooner rather than later. Please.

08-09-2001, 11:34 AM	#3
Norm Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: formally Boca Raton, FL, now Media, PA Posts: 1,411	This really really bad news! I was hoping Europe wasn't as close minded as the USA. The anti- stem cell lobby has successfully managed to link cloning in all its forums with stem cell research. Alot of the fault can also be laid at those cloning fanatics that can't wait to be the first to clone a human!

08-10-2001, 08:28 AM	#4
George78 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Spain Posts: 245	Bad News Yes, we're all sorry about what Mr Busquin said. We will react as much as we can. Remember that the first decision of Mr Bush was banning such research. I think that article has to be taken cautiously. Mr Busquin is not making any differences between reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Neither between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. We have to wait to have an official decision... George

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