La. Senate Approves Ban On Funding For Research Involving Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 06 Jun 2008 - 6:00 PST

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The Louisiana Senate on Tuesday voted 36-0 to approve a measure (HB 370) that would prohibit the use of state or federal funds for research involving human somatic cell nuclear transfer, the AP/KATC.com reports (AP/KATC.com, 6/3).

Somatic cell nuclear transfer involves removing the nucleus of an unfertilized egg cell, replacing it with the material from the nucleus of a "somatic cell" -- a skin, heart or nerve cell, for example -- and stimulating this cell to begin dividing in order to grow stem cells (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/23). According to the AP/KATC.com, religious conservatives oppose the research because they believe it creates and destroys human life, while researchers and advocates of the research say it could lead to treatment and cures for certain diseases.

The bill, which has been approved in the House, requires a final House vote on minor Senate language changes before going to Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), who is likely to sign it into law, the AP/KATC.com reports.

State Sen. Dan Morrish (R) said some people in the scientific community are "not ecstatic" about the measure. Claude Bouchard, director of Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has said he is concerned that the bill could hinder the center's efforts to recruit and retain researchers, even though the center is not currently attempting the procedure. Bouchard was unavailable for comment on Tuesday (AP/KATC.com, 6/3).

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