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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Press Release |
.....May 1, 2003..... |
U. Penn Announcement Implies More Efficient Way to Create Human Life For Destructive ResearchChicago, Illinois - May 1, 2003 - Today the University of Pennsylvania announced that their scientists had successfully grown mouse eggs directly from mouse embryonic stem cells without using any special growth or transcription factors. According to the University's press release, the eggs developed directly into embryos even though they were not fertilized. If able to be replicated in humans, the work may provide a way to "artificially" create human eggs for use in cloning. While the scientists indicate hope that their research will enable them to create "totipotent" cells as a new source of embryonic stem cells, such "totipotent" cells are still embryos, regardless of the name the entity is called or method used to create it. According to John F. Kilner, Ph.D., President of The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, "This method might be an attempt to address the problem of obtaining enough human eggs for cloning research. But it doesn't change the fact that obtaining embryonic stem cells from the eggs requires the destruction of the early human embryo. It is that necessary destruction of early human life--regardless of how it is created--that makes research on human embryonic stem cells morally unacceptable." Daniel McConchie, Director of Public Relations and Public Policy at the Center went on to say, "This development might simply grant those who wish to exploit early human life a 'better' method of creating and destroying it. "Not only would we be able to continue creating, enslaving, and destroying one segment of the human species, we would be able to do it at an unprecedented rate." For interviews with Center personnel, contact Daniel McConchie at 847-317-8180 or by email at dmcconchie@cbhd.org. About The Center for Bioethics and Human DignityThe Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity is a 501(c) 3 non-profit think tank located in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to develop reasoned perspectives on all of today's bioethical issues and to disseminate them to health care professionals, academia, cultural and church leaders, public policy makers, and the media in order to protect human dignity. CBHD |
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Copyright 2003 by The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CBHD, its staff, board or supporters. Permission to reprint granted as long as The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and the web address for this article is referenced. |
