Human Biotechnology
Comments to interagency hearing on the “Coordinated Framework”
October 30, 2015
NOT A COORDINATED FRAMEWORK: The Coordinated Framework is a weak policy guidance document that gives an illusion of regulation while failing to coordinate agency actions and failing to stimulate needed regulations specific to new GE organisms.
The May 18, 2015 announcement of this NAS/NAM project noted that “recent experiments to attempt to edit human genes also have raised important questions about the potential risks and ethical concerns of altering the human germline. Future advances are likely to raise new questions.”
Comments to the EPA workshop on regulation of synbio algae
September 30, 2015
…We are happy that EPA is revising its regulations for the oversight of synbio organisms. In 2010, we called for the agencies of the US government to quit pretending that the coordinated framework was adequate for regulating synthetic biology and issued with some 120 other groups, the Principles for the Oversight of Synthetic Biology. These comments support the Principles before recommending improvements to TSCA for synbio organisms…
Center opposes Stem Cell Bill that would allow Cloning
December 11, 2007
The House of Representatives will vote on the US Senate passed bill on stem cells on June 7, 2007. CTA is concerned that the bill S.5 as passed by the Senate contained implicit approval of a kind of embryo cloning that would also genetically engineer an embryo. In a letter to the House of Representatives, CTA urges that the House amend the Senate bill to preclude Altered Nuclear Transfer Cloning.
CTA letter supporting S. 3504 Fetus Farming Prohibition Act
July 12, 2006
This letter urged both Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Senators to support this legislation to amend the federal fetal tissue legislation to prohibit implanting human embryos in a woman’s uterus or that of an animal. The bill was passed unanimously by both the US Senate and the US House of Representatives and signed into law by President George W. Bush on July 19, 2006.
This legislation was needed as some researchers are speculating that they might wish to grow cloned embryos in women’s uteruses and then abort them to obtain fetal tissues and organs. One state–New Jersey already has state law permitting such procedures.
CTA letter opposing S. 2754-The Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act
July 10, 2006
This bill would permit research on Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT)Embryos–a kind of defective cloned embryo.
This ANT technology would be the first time the human germ-line was deliberately genetically engineered.
It would further cloning technology by providing federal funding to researchers developing their cloning techniques.
It would require, like all cloning procedure, a large number of eggs from women and the bill does not provide safeguards for women who would be encouraged to sell or donate their eggs for research.
Human Cloning and Stem Cell Legislation in US States
May 26, 2006
This report analyzes the laws of 15 states that have been most active up to May 2205 in debating cloning and stem cell laws. The report finds that states have stepped into the void left by the absence of federal legislation, but use widely varying terminology to discuss cloning and stem cells. This conflicting and confusing terminology may unintentionally permit the implantation of cloned embryos in some states negating intended bans on human cloning for reproductive purposes.
ICTA Comments on FDA Gene Therapy Guidance Document
November 21, 2005
ICTA comments urge all ways to doing gene therapy to be monitored for their long term effects and effects on future generations.
Stem Cell Bills and Cloning Bills stall in US Senate
August 5, 2005
The US Senate may act on more than a half dozen bills related to cloning, stem cells, and human-animal chimeras when it returns from recess in September. The announcement that Senator Frist, the Majority Leader, has changed his position on the bills is expected to change the dynamics in the Senate. It already positions Senator Frist as opposing President Bush who promises to veto any bill the destroys human embryos to obtain human embryonic stem cells.
Senate should not support efforts to clone embryos for stem cells
July 12, 2005
Human Genetics Updates
May 26, 2005
Occassional reports focusing on CTA’s work in the area of human genetics and activities by the US Congress, the US Administration, and the United Nations.
Human Genetics Update: May 26, 2005
May 26, 2005
The US House of Representatives passed HR 810, a bill to provide federal funding for additional embryonic stem cell lines on May 24, 2005. This update analyzes the bill and notes that efforts to add funding for cloning of human embryos were stopped.
Center opposes amendment to add funding for cloning to embryonic stem cell bill
May 23, 2005
The House of Representatives on May 24, 2005 adopted HR 810 to provide for the use of human embryos left over from in-vitro fertilization trials in federally funded experiments. The bill as passed excluded funding for human embryo cloning research.
Chimera Legislation introduced in Senate & comments on NAS report on embryo research
May 4, 2005
This update compares the recommendations related to chimera research in the Senate legislation (S.659) on chimeras with recommendations found in the National Academy of Science guidelines released on April 26, 2005
March 24, 2005 Update: Senate Passes Genetic Discrimination Bill
March 24, 2005
Center supports new legislation to ban human cloning
March 17, 2005
United Nations votes resolution calling for ban on all forms of human cloning
March 8, 2005
“Altered Nuclear Transfer-ANT” Crosses Ethical Boundaries
December 3, 2004
CTA comments on the President’s Council on Bioethics’ proposal on producing embryonic stem cells.
CTA Testimony on Prenatal Genetic Testing
November 17, 2004
CTA Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell testifies at a Senate subcommittee hearing on the science, policy, and ethics of prenatal genetic testing.
Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis: Ethical Guidelines for Responsible Regulation
May 15, 2003
CTA recommends that the President’s Council on Bioethics adopt ethical guidelines for the genetic screening of embryos prior to in vitro fertilization.
CTA Testimony on Human Cloning
February 5, 2002
CTA Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, advocating a moratorium on human cloning.
