It is puzzling to me that developing nations and, in the US, states with the smallest concentration of biotechnology industry have put such a high priority on bans for stem cell research and cloning. So when I read that Nebraska’s legislature, with all the issues in the world to discuss, will be focusing on cloning in its legislative session, the only thing I could think to say was who cares? why?
Akin to South Dakota, Nebraska is despite its excellent university in Lincoln and medical school hardly a place likely to attract scientists who want to work on nuclear transfer. Before you flame us, yes we get that they do research. But the bit of stem cell research underway there is on “Bush approved cells” and is not funded by the NIH. And the other pieces that would have to be in place to do major embryonic research are just not likely to come to Nebraska, ever. So why is a very, very red state debating a ban on stem cell research?
Wait … did anyone check to see whether Dr. Hwang has left the country? Perhaps the legislators in Nebraska know something about where the South Korean stem cell team is going. Anyway, where the matter of rogue cloning is concerned you can never be too careful.