Missouri: Stem Cell Debate Tests Basic Beliefs

Senate Bill 160 and House Bill 457 would ban therapeutic cloning. These bills would essentially ban what is known as embryonic stem cell research, making attempting such research a class B felony. Complicating the issue is the fact that most Missouri residents don't understand the science behind stem cell research.

In fact, a recent public opinion poll conducted by Market Strategies, a national polling firm, revealed that only one-third of Missourians had heard about somatic cell nuclear transfer stem cell research. SCNT is the type of research the Stowers Institute, a Kansas City medical research facility, seeks to protect.

"Somatic cell nuclear transfer represents, perhaps, our greatest hope for curing diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and many more," said Marie Jennings, spokesperson for the Stowers Institute.

State Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit, a sponsor of SB 160, said he opposes SCNT because he believes it to be unethical.

"To me it's a simple matter of deciding whether we should be creating a human embryo for the purpose of destroying it," Bartle said. "We could achieve medical advancements by experimenting on the prison population. But we don't do that."

As debate on the issue continues on both sides of the legislature, a look at the science behind the controversy can help the average Missouri resident decide where they stand.

Read on