Steven Holt: “as a scientist, I must say extreme conviction seems to be crowding out understanding here today. I would like to cut…”

“as a scientist, I must say extreme conviction seems to be crowding out understanding here today. I would like to cut through the scientific rhetoric of this biomedical research technique and discuss the real progress in this area. But in the limited time available, let me draw the choice as sharply as possible. Down one road we see potential therapeutic cloning to help cure diseases from Parkinson's to Alzheimer's; down the other road we see unprecedented criminalization of scientific research. Now, therapeutic cloning is not some far-out technique conducted on the fringe of the scientific community. These researchers are not crazed Dr. Frankensteins. They are people like our neighbors, highly ethical who are working hard to save lives, to relieve suffering, to improve the quality of life. Let us not make them criminals. Now, to draw the distinction here, particularly referring to my colleague's reference to a slippery slope, in vitro fertilization has been hailed as a miracle of modern science allowing millions of American couples to conceive. However, by necessity of the in vitro fertilization procedure, some human embryos are created that will not be given the chance to develop into babies. Are we to say here today that we want to outlaw in vitro fertilization? IVF is not only accepted, it is enthusiastically embraced. It is a God send for millions of families. Yes, millions of families. Therapeutic cloning is no more ethically objectionable than IVF.”