Missouri Lawmakers Propose Constitutional Amendment Banning Human Cloning, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Missouri state Sen. Matt Bartle (R) and Rep. Jim Lembke (R) on Tuesday announced a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban human cloning in the state and reverse part of a measure passed last month by state voters, the AP/Columbia Missourian reports (Wiese, AP/Columbia Missourian, 12/20). Missouri voters in November approved a measure that amended the state constitution to ensure that stem cell research permitted under federal law is protected in the state and would prohibit human cloning. The amendment, titled the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, allows stem cell research that involves somatic cell nuclear transfer, which some consider a type of human cloning. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is conducted by inserting the genetic material from a patient’s cell — usually from a skin cell — into an unfertilized egg from another person. The patient’s genetic material incorporates into the egg and causes it to develop into an embryo that is a genetic match to the skin cell patient (Kaiser Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, 11/8). Bartle and Lembke’s proposal would ban somatic cell nuclear transfer or any attempts to “produce a human zygote, blastocyst or embryo” by any means other than the union of a sperm and an egg, Lembke said. If the proposal is approved in the state House and Senate, it would go on the ballot in 2008, the Kansas City Star reports (Wagar, Kansas City Star, 12/19). Bartle said that collecting signatures to place it on the ballot would be considered if the proposal does not pass in the state Legislature (AP/Columbia Missourian, 12/20).

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