Nebraska's Legislature to tackle stem-cell issues

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Legislature session that opens next Wednesday will address the long-simmering, religiously freighted issues of cloning and stem-cell research.

One proposal would ban both reproductive cloning and so-called therapeutic cloning — the creation of embryos for stem-cell research using somatic cell nuclear transfer. Another bill would ban reproductive cloning but permit embryo research for therapeutic cloning.

A pre-session survey of members of Nebraska's unicameral legislature showed 20 supported the broader ban, 11 backed the second bill, 12 favored neither and 6 did not answer. On a different point, 23 said the state should encourage stem-cell research, though many opposed embryonic research and four wanted to ban all stem-cell research.

Yet another pending bill would ban use of state money or state facilities for any research that destroys human embryos, whether from fertilization clinics, aborted fetuses or the nuclear transfer technique.

Scientists think embryonic cells have potential to grow replacement organs or cure conditions such as Parkinson's disease and paralysis.