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Fighting the Clone Wars: Where Politics and Common Sense Collide

Fighting the Clone Wars: Where Politics and Common Sense Collide. Dennis M. Sullivan, MD, MA (Ethics) Professor of Biology Director, Center for Bioethics Cedarville University Center Web site: www.cedarville.edu/bioethics E-mail: sullivan@cedarville.edu. Objectives.

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Fighting the Clone Wars: Where Politics and Common Sense Collide

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  1. Fighting the Clone Wars:Where Politics and Common Sense Collide Dennis M. Sullivan, MD, MA (Ethics) Professor of Biology Director, Center for Bioethics Cedarville University Center Web site: www.cedarville.edu/bioethics E-mail: sullivan@cedarville.edu

  2. Objectives • To review the current context of the human cloning debate, especially as it relates to embryo-destructive research • To describe recent attempts to craft a legal barrier to biomedical extremism in Ohio

  3. Our National Discourse:Two Competing Narratives

  4. President Obama Speech (3/9/09):Changing the NIH Funding Policy for Embryonic Stem Cell Research • Today, with the Executive Order I am about to sign, we will bring the change that so many scientists and researchers; doctors and innovators; patients and loved ones have hoped for, and fought for, these past eight years: we will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research . . . • At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated . . . • When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored . . . • [W]e [will] make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.

  5. Robert George& Christopher Tollefsen: • On January 16, 2007, a remarkable journey came to an end . . . Sixteen months earlier, Noah Benton Markham’s life had been jeopardized by the winds and rain of Hurricane Katrina. Trapped in a flooded hospital in New Orleans, Noah depended upon the timely work of [many rescuers] to take him to safety . . . • Noah’s story of rescue is . . . one of many inspirational tales of heroism from that national disaster. • What, then, makes it unique? And why did the story of his rescue end sixteen months after the events of September 2006? • The answer: Noah [was] one of the youngest residents of New Orleans to be saved from Katrina . . .

  6. A Difference in Perspective: • According to the first narrative: • Frozen human embryos are a means to an end • They are valuable for the good they might provide for others • Based on highly speculative research that has yet to cure a single human illness

  7. A Difference in Perspective (cont.): • According to the second narrative: • Frozen human embryos are ends in themselves • An embryo is “a whole living member of the species Homo sapiens in the earliest stage of his or her natural development.”* • If not implanted: • A tragedy • Human beings whom no one will love • They will never have a name * Embryo: A Defense of Human Life, by RP George and C Tollefsen

  8. The National Context Embryo-Destructive Research: Promising Dream or Cynical Lie?

  9. Welcome to the Clone Wars . . .

  10. “A long time ago, in a fertility lab far away . . .” • Louise Joy Brown was born • July 25, 1978 (Great Britain) • Beginning of modern reproductive technologies • Ethical oversight was minimal

  11. Assisted Reproductive Technology • in vitro fertilization (IVF) • hyperstimulation of ovaries with powerful hormones • follow progress with ultrasound • harvest eggs, then fertilize some or all • 5 day development of embryos • implantation of 2-4 embryos • freezing of excess remaining embryos

  12. “Left-Over” Embryos • Frozen Embryos • How many embryos in cryopreservation canisters? • U.S. alone: 600,000 • Worldwide: who really knows? • Basis of a contentious national debate • Source of embryonic stem cells • Used to potentially grow new tissues and organs • May help treat chronic diseases • Diabetes, Parkinson’s, heart disease, spinal cord injuries

  13. The Rest of the Story • How many embryos are actually available? • Only a small % of the 600K could be used for research • 80% are still held for possible future implantation • 10% are donated for implantation in others • Only 10% available for research • 10% is not enough! • Therefore, embryo-destructive research is a “black hole”  human cloning

  14. Defining Human Personhood

  15. Building the Concept of Personhood • Person: A member of the moral community (Beckwith). • Implies: • Value • Inviolability • Potential Candidates: • (Some or all) human beings • God and purely spiritual beings • Intelligent Martians (if they exist) • Higher animals, “intelligent” robots (controversial)

  16. Human Personhood • Key question: • Is the category “human person” coextensive with the category “human being?” • If yes, then there is no such thing as a human non-person • If no, then: • some human beings are not persons • (or at least) human personhood can exist in gradations or degrees

  17. Conception view of personhood • A human being is a person from the moment of conception and at every subsequent moment. • Human personhood corresponds with biological humanhood • Moral value is intrinsic, and begins at the earliest moment of biological life

  18. Human Personhood and Biology The First Six Days of Life

  19. Some Key Terms • Gametes: sperm or egg • Fertilization: union of sperm and egg • Zygote: a “one-celled” embryo (right after fertilization) • Embryo: up until 8 weeks of development

  20. Human Embryos Are Human Persons

  21. Three Clear Scientific Reasons: • The embryo is distinct • Not the same entity as gametes that led to it • Biological life begins here • The embryo is human • From fertilization, 46 chromosomes • Genetic makeup of human beings • (“When does human life begin?” is not the question) • The embryo is complete • “a whole living member” of our species in the earliest stage of development • All that is needed: time and nutrition to grow into an adult member of our species

  22. What Does All ThisHave to Do With Cloning?

  23. Cloning Defined . . . • The nucleus (containing the genetic code)is removed from a somatic (body) cell (e.g., a skin cell) • This is inserted into a human egg with its own DNA removed (enucleated) • Called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) • Stimulated to grow by a chemical or electric signal • This mimics natural fertilization • The result looks very much like a human embryo • If allowed to develop and implant, theoretically could become a normal baby

  24. Natural Fertilization

  25. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

  26. Reproductive Cloning

  27. Reproductive Cloning • Cloning as a form of assisted reproductive technology, like IVF • The resulting baby would be a genetically identical twin to the person whose DNA created it • Examples? • Exhibit A: Dolly • Exhibit B: Has this been done in humans?

  28. Human Cloning Claims . . .

  29. Dr. Panayiotis Zavos • 2001: teamed up with Italian embryologist Severino Antinori • ten women lined up for clones • never verified • 2004: claimed he implanted a cloned embryo into a 35 year-old woman • clone of her husband • never verified • 2006: claimed to have cloned and implanted into five women • one was a Briton • never verified • Now working in a “secret lab” in the Middle East

  30. Why this is all so sick . . . • Not even remotely safe • Cloning Dolly took 277 attempts • Dolly lived 6 years, euthanized after premature aging • In humans, a huge toll of birth defects would result • No responsible health organization, physicians group, or reputable research institution favors rep. cloning

  31. “Therapeutic” Cloning

  32. “Therapeutic” Cloning

  33. The Heart of the Clone Wars: • “Our intention is not to create cloned human beings, but rather to make life-saving therapies for a wide range of human disease conditions, including diabetes, strokes, cancer, AIDS, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.” • Robert Lanza, Advanced Cell Technology • [We are] speaking as individuals and scientists. I’m not an expert in ethics. • Michael West, President, Advanced Cell Technology

  34. Human cloning has only been done once . . . • Dr. Samuel Wood, January, 2008 • Californian research company Stemagen • Used DNA from his own skin cells

  35. Ethical Objections • “Therapeutic Cloning” is a euphemism • There are currently no therapies available • There are many complications • “Research Cloning” is the more appropriate phrase • Research cloning destroys human lives • There are many other alternatives • Adult stem cells therapies are numerous and successful • These are currently being used to save lives • New horizon: iPS cells

  36. Legislative Attempts to Ban Human Cloning The Ohio Experience

  37. March, 2008: Testimony before the Senate Civil Justice Committee

  38. Reflections . . . • The attitude towards any restrictions on research • OSU • Cincinnati Children’s • CWRU • Politics and 8th grade biology • “From your religious viewpoint . . .” • The “half a loaf” plan • How it all ended

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