Carmine Boal

Iowa House of Representatives

From the Iowa House

Week 4, February 2, 2007

 

The issue of whether the State of Iowa should allow stem cell research was at the forefront of political debate in the 2006 elections. With the political rhetoric behind us, it’s time for a more factual discussion on this very important topic.

 

In his address to the Legislature this past week, Governor Culver called for spending $12.5 million on stem cell research at the University of Iowa.  He also called for the Iowa Legislature to remove Iowa’s ban on stem cell research.

 

The Governor’s request to remove the ban will require no action from the Iowa Legislature since the fact is both adult and embryonic stem cell research are already allowed in Iowa for research purposes. 

 

Human cloning, on the other hand, is banned in the State of Iowa.  Chapter 707B.4 says in part:

 

1. A person shall not intentionally or knowingly do any of the following:
   a. Perform or attempt to perform human cloning.
   b. Participate in performing or in an attempt to perform human cloning.
   c. Transfer or receive a cloned human embryo for any purpose.
   d. Transfer or receive, in whole or in part, any oocyte, human embryo, fetus, or human somatic cell, for the purpose of human cloning.

 

2.   This section shall not restrict areas of scientific research not specifically prohibited, including in vitro fertilization; the administration of fertility-enhancing drugs; or research in the use of nuclear transfer or other cloning techniques to produce molecules, deoxyribonucleic acid, tissues, organs, plants, animals other than humans, or cells other than human embryos.

 

 

To reiterate, the Governor’s request is an attempt to repeal the Iowa Human Cloning Ban enacted in 2002.  This would allow the creation of cloned human embryos to be used for research purposes. 

 

While I am in favor of adult stem cell research, I am very opposed to removing Iowa’s ban on human cloning.  Also, while it is legal in Iowa, I am also opposed to embryonic stem cell research, which is research on existing (not cloned) embryos. 

 

Because the elections provided a lot of misinformation on this issue, I encourage everyone to take responsibility to become an educated voter.  There is a great deal of material on the topic, including examples of stem cell research already being performed in Iowa.  A scientist I visited with has founded a private biotechnology company in Iowa that performs adult stem cell research.  It is his belief the main reason stem cell research, both adult and embryonic, is not more widespread in Iowa has more to do with an unfavorable business climate than the ban on human cloning or a lack of public money.

 

I welcome your thoughts on this topic.  As always please contact me in any of the following ways:

 

 

E-mail: carmine.boal@legis.state.ia.us

Home Address: 3301 SW Timber Green Road, Ankeny

Home Phone: 964-3335