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Biotech / Medical : Biotransplant(BTRN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sam who wrote (820)	12/19/2000 11:04:37 AM
From: smh	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1475

Friday December 15 11:50 AM ET UK Scientists Urge Approval of Stem Cell Research LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists urged members of parliament on Friday to allow researchers to use stem cells from human embryos to develop new medical treatments for a range of diseases. As parliament debated the issue ahead of a free vote, or vote of conscience, on Tuesday to permit human stem cells to be used in research, scientists said myths about what it will involve should not cloud their decision. ``Stem cell research promises medical advances that give hope of a healthy future to tens of thousands of people suffering from a wide range of diseases,'' Dr Mike Dexter, of the Wellcome Trust, said is a statement. ``It would be a terrible shame if MPs allow misconceptions and misinformation to dash these hopes,'' added the director of the world's largest research charity, which issued a briefing note for MPs. Stem cells are master cells that can develop into different cell types such as blood, brain and bones. They offer the potential to treat diseases ranging from Parkinson's, diabetes and cancers to leukemia, hepatitis and stroke. Scientists want to use stem cells from early embryos to develop new treatments, but under current legislation they can't. Parliament will vote on whether to change the law. Government Support Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) has made it clear he supports the research. Health Minister Yvette Cooper told parliament on Friday that there were strong ethical factors on both sides of the argument. But she added: ``We are talking about research which could restore the power to walk, the power to talk, the power to feed yourself, to hold a loved one or baby in your arms.'' Right-to-life groups and religious leaders vehemently oppose the research. They warn it will lead to human cloning and say it is morally unacceptable. ``There are serious ethical issues that have been raised by many people but many embryos at the moment are being discarded as a result of IVF treatment and only a few cells from these embryos could be enough to produce a stem cell line potentially to treat tens of thousands of people,'' Dexter told Reuters. ``It's not to do with cloning humans it's to do with the therapeutic use of stem cells.'' Stem cells are derived from the cells of aborted fetuses, from blood cells taken from the umbilical cord at birth and from adult tissue. But stem cells from early embryos, called blastocysts, that are less than one week old offer the greatest potential for human benefit. ``The trust is taking an active part in trying to inform members of parliament about the benefits and about some of the myths surrounding this research,'' Dexter added. Under the proposed changes to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act of 1990 research on stem cells from human embryos will be extended but human cloning will remain illegal.