Sam Brownback: “I would like to correct some miscalculation with the Senator from Massachusetts. I want to read from the amendment…”

“I would like to correct some miscalculation with the Senator from Massachusetts. I want to read from the amendment because he represented a couple of examples that we specifically state in the bill we are not prohibiting. On page 4 of the amendment under ``construction,'' it states specifically that: Nothing in this Act is intended to limit somatic cell gene therapy, or to effect research involving human pluripotent stem cells. This somatic cell gene therapy is what you are talking about where you have already the sperm and egg, and you have a full chromosome. That is where you may want to make changes, and that is where the research is focused. Now they can deal with some of the dreaded diseases the Senator from Massachusetts says we should rightly try to deal with. I agree that we should. We specifically added that. We covered that point the Senator raised and about which he has concern because we don't want to impact that area. We talk about this on page 3. It says: The term ``human germline gene modification'' means the intentional modification of DNA in any human cell for the purpose of producing a genetic change which can be passed on to future individuals. In this amendment we are saying: Do we really want to change the human species without knowing what the impact is going to be down the road?”