How can the government pass a law against cloning and stem cell research? Can’t a scientist experiment in the privacy of his own laboratory? (as long as he isn’t practicing murder or mayhem, which are already against the law). Are there other laws against certain research? I mean like is there maybe a law against whirling positrons around and crashing them into each other, for instance, on the grounds that it is a slippery slope, or that it is hubris to inquire into Nature or God’s Plan?
Also, will all those who have been already doing forbidden research be grandfathered in?
And in order to enforce the laws against stem cell and against cloning humans, won’t all scientists have to be watched, or at least required to sign a paper like the Pope wants Catholic teachers to sign saying they won’t teach anything other than proper doctrine in the Catholic universities?
Or is the government just posturing around to appease the usual crazed religious fanatics?
I think really it’s a moral issue. People (generally) don’t like experiments being done on humans to begin with. Maybe some people also think that experimentation on animals kind of opens the door to human test subjects. The technology does have a pretty good potential for abuse IMHO. Think eugenics here… How hard would it be (were the technology a bit more evolved) to clone yourself a race of “perfect” super humans? Wasn’t that kinda what Hitler had in mind? And as for a private lab for scientists to play around in, i believe you need some pretty serious facilities to do any kind of cloning. Anyways, just my $0.02
-Dani
They’re not necessarily outlawing the research, per se, in the case of stem cell research. They’re outlawing (well, considering outlawing) using taxpayer money to fund said research. In practice, given how much research is publicly funded, outlawing the funding would pretty much do it in.
As far as the outlawing of creating a human clone, as far as I’m aware, that’s the first time a law like that has been passed. Maybe I’m wrong. Wouldn’t surprise me terribly.
The US government does not now, and as far as I know, never has allowed government funding for stem-cell research UNLESS they are stem-cells taken from aborted fetuses (odd huh?).
I will now relate to you a true story:
The university at which I was previously employed had stem-cell research going on. This research was NOT federally funded, but funded by a private pharmaceutical company. However, the research was being done in the building where I also was doing genetic research. We would, on occasion share equipment (incubators, pipettors, thermocyclers…etc), but never share supplies (taq, primers…etc). Anyhoo, this researcher was booted off campus because he was…wait for it…using federally funded electricity, and building maintenance. It was insane.
The legislation debated yesterday in the House would outlaw human cloning in any way, shape, or form. It wouldn’t matter who was funding the research. I’m guessing that it won’t pass the Senate in it’s current form.
The debate over stem-cell research is about federal funding, not whether the research can be done at all. My guess on that one (if it matters) is that federal funding will be allowed.
Now to answer your questions:
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A Scientist can do anything he want in his own laboratory including make methamphetamines, that doesn’t make it legal.
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There are all kinds of laws placed on research. I can’t, for example, use human subjects without getting their Informed Consent, I can’t get radioactive substances without proper identification and an approved protocol, and I can’t do any work on small pox. Research is HIGHLY federally regulated (think FDA).
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Forbidden research is not grandfathered in. They would just have to cease and desist.
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Scientists generally play by the rules. Believe it or not, we have no interest in getting our employers (be they federally or privately funded) in trouble.
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The government is posturing. In the case of stem-cells, private research would continue, and I believe that no self-respecting Scientist would want to attempt cloning a Human anyway, so it’s a bit of an empty gesture.