By TODD ZWILLICH
WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives defeated a measure Wednesday banning the use of cloned human embryos in reproduction.
Lawmakers defeated the measure despite opposition of virtually every member of Congress to using embryos to start human pregnancies. But the bill ran into staunch opposition from anti-abortion groups and from more than 30 pro-life Democrats.
The bill would have made it a crime to implant a cloned embryo into the uterus of a woman, a prospect that currently has no legal impediment. It would have left unimpinged a cloning process known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, as long as it is used solely for research purposes.
Congress has voted on cloning bans several times over the years, but lawmakers have never reached consensus on banning so-called reproductive cloning while allowing embryos to be cloned and then used as a source of stem cells for research before they take human form.
Pro-life groups attacked the legislation, saying it would essentially give sanction to scientists to exploit women for their eggs for the sake of scientific research. Conservative House members echoed those sentiments in debate Wednesday.
Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla, a physician, said a ban on reproductive cloning was a half-measure and that all forms of human cloning should be banned.
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http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/ind...-20070607-10241200-bc-us-cloning-analysis.xml
