Wisc Repubs want to ban research on fetal stem cells from fetuses aborted 40 yrs ago

[RamboLiberal]

Recently, a bill (2011 Assembly Bill 214) has been introduced by a number of Wisconsin representatives that would make the use of these fetal cells by biomedical researchers and the biotechnology industry a criminal offense in Wisconsin. The rationale for this antagonistic stance is that the tissues used to produce the original HEK293, WI-38 and MRC-5 cells were isolated from fetuses obtained from legally terminated pregnancies over 40 years ago.

Although many find abortion morally unjustifiable, it is important to realize that the original pregnancy terminations were not carried out with the intent to produce cell lines, vaccines or therapeutics. Rather, these cells were generated after the fact, from fetuses that were no longer alive.

The generation of the cells and their use to save millions of lives is morally distinct from the original abortions. Indeed, this argument has led many pro-life advocates, including Edward Furton of the National Catholic Bioethics Center as well as the St. Louis Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office, to support the use of vaccines produced in these cells.

If AB 214 is enacted, it will not reverse the original decision to terminate three pregnancies. It will, however, jeopardize future health care advances, decimate biomedical research within the state, lead to substantial job losses and a significant "brain drain" from Wisconsin and cost us hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding and biomedical commerce.

Stephen A. Duncan is Marcus Professor of Human and Molecular Genetics, vice chairman of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy and director of the Medical College of Wisconsin's Program in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/129764063.html

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Jeez.

K&R

[Denninmi]

2. Ah, just the warm-up act.

The real goal will be in their next set of bills, making it a felony to state that the earth is more than 6,000 years old, that it's round, and that it isn't the center of the solar system and universe and is not orbited by the moon, sun, planets and stars. The penalty will be your choice of death by stoning, burning at the stake, or being boiled alive in a vat of bubbling oil -- ok, it's Wisconsin, perhaps they'll mandate a vat of clarified butter.