Three Of Four Louisiana Gubernatorial Candidates Say They Support Efforts To Ban Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Three of the candidates running in the Louisiana gubernatorial race -- U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal (R), businessman John Georges, who is running as an independent, and state Sen. Walter Boasso (D) -- recently said they support efforts to ban somatic cell nuclear transfer in the state, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. Gubernatorial candidate Foster Campbell (D), the state public service commissioner, said that "[i]n general" he is for allowing the technique to be used for research purposes (Moller, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 10/18).

Somatic cell nuclear transfer is conducted by inserting the genetic material from a patient's cell -- usually from a skin cell -- into an unfertilized egg from another person. The patient's genetic material incorporates into the egg and causes it to develop into an embryo that is a genetic match to the skin cell patient (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 10/12). Human reproductive cloning currently is banned in the state, and efforts in 2004 and 2005 to ban all somatic cell nuclear transfer in the state did not pass in the Legislature.

Some researchers at Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center are concerned that a ban on the technique would hinder the center's ability to attract top scientists, the Times-Picayune reports. Jindal said he did not believe a ban on therapeutic cloning would compromise research in the state because of recent advances in adult stem cell research. "I certainly oppose the creation of life for the purpose of destroying it for research or for other purposes," Jindal said.

Boasso, who voted to ban somatic cell nuclear transfer while serving in the state Senate, said he still believes the technique should be banned. Georges initially said he supports adult stem cell research and then said he would have to consult the Roman Catholic Church's and the Greek Orthodox Church's positions on the research before providing a definitive answer. He later said his position is in line with the churches' positions, the Times-Picayune reports. Campbell said he has not followed the debate over stem cell research closely but added that he favors research that has the potential to cure serious diseases (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 10/18).

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