Officials: Cloning ban hurts U of I

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - University of Iowa scientists say a new law that prohibits human cloning is forcing them to leave the state to take part in the newest phases of stem-cell research.

The law, approved by Iowa's Legislature this spring, forbids so-called therapeutic cloning, which involves placing the nucleus of another human cell into an unfertilized egg.

University officials say the changes are hobbling the university's role and status in a pioneering field of research. Scientists say the procedure can be used to help find cures for Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

The new law is forcing some researchers to cross state lines to work in states that allow the study of therapeutic cloning.

"It means we can never be leaders, we can only be collaborators at other institutions," said Mary Hendrix, a professor of anatomy and cell biology.

Robert Kelch, university vice president, said the law also will hurt the school's ability to keep and attract top researchers and its ability to partner with companies hoping to commercialize new medical treatments.

"The real issue is not the immediate effect on the faculty who are here or what will happen tomorrow. This has a longer-term chilling effect on biomedical researchers in Iowa," Kelch said.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. John Redwine, R-Sioux City, says therapeutic cloning is unethical and in its early stages constitutes human cloning.

Redwine said the lack of consensus on when human life begins, even among lawmakers who opposed the bill, underscores uncertainty many have about therapeutic cloning and stem-cell research. He also said claims that Iowa is falling behind other states in such research are exaggerated.

"It's absolutely blowing it out of proportion considering that there is not a single scientist in Iowa cloning human beings," said Redwine, who cited Michigan and Pennsylvania as states with similar laws.

In Nebraska, a similar bill (LB1067) died in the Legislature this spring.

In Iowa, the bill was ultimately amended several times before winning approval.

The first version banned human reproductive cloning, which university officials support. But it also outlawed therapeutic cloning and stem-cell research. The university lobbied to change the bill and successfully inserted language to allow stem-cell research but not therapeutic cloning.

University officials say they have also been closely tracking Congress as it deals with the questions of therapeutic cloning and stem-cell research.

The U.S. House passed a ban on all human cloning last July.