AAS-Stem cells and human cloning

Members of Parliament passed the Patterson Bill, Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Bill 2006, yesterday by 82 votes to 62. For more information on the Academy’s involvement in the lead up to this decision, please see below.

Letter to Members of Parliament on the Lockhart Report and Patterson Bill (27 November 2006)

Letter
Media release

Summary
The Australian Academy of Science strongly urged Members of the House of Representatives to support the passage of the Patterson Bill and the recommendation of the Lockhart report on stem cell research.

Review of the Human Cloning and Embryo Research Acts (11 October 2006)

The Academy’s submission to the inquiry into the legislative responses to recommendations of the Lockhart Review.

Transcript from the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs inquiry into legislative responses to the Lockhart Review (20 October 2006).
Academy representatives:

Professor Bob Williamson, Chair, National Committee for Medicine
Professor Philip Kuchel, Secretary, Science Policy
Professor Marilyn Renfree

Summary
The Australian Academy of Science supports the recommendations of the Lockhart Committee.

There have been many major contributions to stem cell research (with both embryonic and adult stem cells) during the period since 2002 that have altered our perception of the value of embryonic and adult stem cells, and also the value of somatic cell nuclear transfer. There have also been legislative changes in other countries that are relevant to the Acts.

In the view of the Academy, recommendations that raise no substantial issues should be accepted, and debate should focus upon the issues on which there are serious differences of opinion.

On human cloning (the Academy’s position statement) (4 February 1999)

Full position statement
Media release

The Academy’s position
The Council, in accord with international opinion, considers that reproductive cloning to produce human fetuses is unethical and unsafe and should be prohibited. However, human cells, whether derived from cloning techniques or from embryonic stem cell lines should not be precluded from use in approved research activities in cellular and developmental biology.

Human stem cell research report (18 April 2001)

Full Report
Media release

Summary
The focus of current research in human stem cells is on human embryonic stem (ES) cells, which have the potential to develop into any mature adult cell, and on scattered adult stem cells which occur in some, but not all, adult tissues. There is some objection to the use of human ES cells in research because the cells are derived from a one-week old human embryo when it is a microscopic hollow mass of about 200 cells.

In theory, it should be possible to reprogram almost any adult DNA to begin earlier paths of differentiation, thus making it unnecessary to use ES cells for research into cell therapies. In practice, our knowledge of many cellular and developmental processes is imperfect. Adult stem cells cannot adequately substitute for ES cells in basic research concerned with developmental biology because important biological differences exist between embryonic and adult stem cells. However, research into adult stem cells should be encouraged, especially to permit rapid application of insights gained from study of ES cells, and because progress made in this area of research may inform the other.

The Academy of Science continues to promote public discussion on human stem cell research. The Academy restates its position of opposition to cloning 'whole human being' on the basis of safety and general ethical concerns. The recent developments in stem cell research show the scientific and ultimately therapeutic importance of undertaking basic research in cellular and developmental biology prior to clinical application of that research.

Submission to the Lockhart Review (25 July 2005)

The Academy’s submission to the Committee Reviewing the Human Cloning and Embryo Research Acts of 2002.

The Academy’s recommendations

Some doctors and scientists have argued that researchers should be allowed to create embryos with specific genetic properties for research using egg and sperm from informed donors. At present the Academy does not support this position and would not allow such research.
The present legislation should be amended to provide for a new definition of the illegal act. We suggest that it shall be illegal to implant an embryo (other than one created by the fertilisation of a human egg by a human sperm) in the womb of a woman for the purpose of reproduction. It shall also be illegal to permit the growth of a human embryo in the laboratory, or any other place other than the womb of a woman, past the stage corresponding to development of an embryo for 14 days in vivo.
Cells that are studied entirely in vitro in a research context, and are not formed from a fertilised embryo, should not be regarded as embryos.
The conditions under which embryos surplus to IVF needs, or unfit for transfer, can be used in research to provide stem cell lines are defined in legislation.
There is a need for an ongoing forum where issues raised by stem cell science and embryo research can be discussed, and where anyone with a question or a point of view can be sure that their opinions will be considered.

Recent advances in stem cell science and therapies (6 May 2005)

The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Academy of Science held a one-day Symposium with national and international presentations on embryo, newborn and adult stem cell science.

The Symposium addressed the progress that has been made in this field since the Academy’s report of 2001. The proceedings are available on the Academy web site, to inform national debate and policy on this subject.

Proceedings of the symposium

Therapeutic Cloning for Tissue Repair (16 September 1999)

The Australian Academy of Science held a Forum to discuss the capabilities and future possibilities of advanced reproductive and genetic technologies. The Forum brought together leading Australian scientists in cloning techniques, policy makers, ethicists and legal experts.

Full report
Program and speakers abstracts
Media release

Recommendations from the Forum

The Academy supports the view put forward at the Forum that the National Health & Medical Research Council should be asked to encourage research into stem cells obtained from adult organisms.
The Academy supports the view put forward at the Forum that regulation within a uniform, national legislative framework can provide the accountability in research that the public demands.
The Academy supports the view put forward at the Forum that the NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics Committee might undertake a formal, two-stage consultative process on ethical issues in human embryonic stem cell research.

Stem cell discussion (14 August 2006)

Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National, hosted a discussion on stem cells. Her guests were Professor Perry Bartlett FAA, Professor Bernie Tuch and Professor Bob Williamson FAA.

Full transcript

Humanity's heritage: The human genome and stem cells (21 July 2004)

Address to the National Press Club by Professor John Shine, Secretary, Biological Sciences, Australian Academy of Science and Executive Director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney.

Transcript of address

The mammal copiers – advances in cloning (Nova: Science in the News)

The cloning of Dolly the sheep stimulated discussion on the benefits and risks of the development of cloning techniques.

Stem cells – gateway to 21st century medicine (Nova: Science in the News )

Human embryonic stem cells burst into the headlines in 1998 and have made regular appearances ever since. Newspapers love controversy. But why is the issue so controversial?

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