30 November, 2006
Current Event Article
Summary
Australia’s Senate voted to end the country’s four-year ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research. The Senate voted to allow therapeutic cloning, which involves removing the nucleus of an unfertilized human egg and adding DNA to make it grow in a lab dish. Scientists hope stem cell research will eventually lead to treatments or cures for diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as spinal cord injuries, diabetes and arthritis. Opponents warned that the technology could be abused and lead to human cloning and the creation of animal-human hybrids. “On one hand, I want to do everything possible to help relieve suffering and to leave open the hope of cures of terrible, debilitating illnesses,” Howard said. “On the other hand, I do have concerns that this may in some areas be a step too far and I am still weighing the matter.”
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