News and Articles
Columbia Missourian
March 26, 2008
Missouri appeals court looks at stem cell ballot
KANSAS CITY - The long-running controversy over human embryonic stem cell research in Missouri moved to the state appeals court Wednesday, where both sides argued over a ballot summary of a constitutional amendment that opponents of the research want to put before voters in November.
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Baptist Press
February 22, 2008
Mo. judge sides with anti-cloning forces
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (BP) - Pro-lifers in Missouri won a major court victory Feb. 20 when a state judge rewrote the ballot language of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban all types of human cloning.
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The Columbia Missourian
February 20, 2008
Judge rewrites contentious ballot summary for stem cell initiative
JEFFERSON CITY - A judge rewrote the ballot language Wednesday for a proposed constitutional amendment banning a particular kind of embryonic stem cell research after supporters claimed the state's original description was biased.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
February 20, 2008
Carnahan 0-2 in court fights over ballot language
The Associated Press reports that "A judge rewrote the ballot language Wednesday for a proposed constitutional amendment banning a particular kind of embryonic stem cell research after supporters claimed the state's original description was biased."
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U.S. News & World Report
February 14, 2008
Scientists Show Stem Cells Don't Cause Cancer
A major concern with using stem cells to treat disease has been the possibility that the retrovirus used to implant the cells might cause cancer, but now a group of scientists appears to have solved that problem.
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The Temple Telegram
February 13, 2008
Adult stem cells: Still a sense of wonder
Dr. Darwin Prockop has been researching adult stem cells for 18 years and yet maintains a sense of wonder about his work.
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Press Release
February 4, 2008
Pro-Cloning Group Relies on "Paid Volunteers" to Work Polls on Election Day
ST. LOUS, MO - The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures claims it is a broad-based grassroots organization, so why is it paying big bucks to hire workers to staff polling places on Election Day?
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Reuters
February 4, 2008
Finnish Researchers Transplant Bone from Stem Cells: Derived Without Human Cloning
ST. LOUS, MO - Reuters reports on scientists in Finland who say they have "replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isolated from his own fatty tissue and grown inside his abdomen."
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Kansas City Star
January 22, 2008
AS I SEE IT: Breakthrough alters debate
As a physician, I was heartened by the recent news that scientists had successfully created the equivalent of embryonic stem cells without human cloning experimentation. This new scientific breakthrough holds real promise for finding new cures and treatments. It should put an end to the human cloning debate that has been central to Missouri politics for years.
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Jefferson City News Tribune
January 21, 2008
Steadfast in her convictions
Being in the minority or being unfairly judged by society does not sway Chelsea Zimmerman from her conviction to act. Information is her best defense - and offense - as Zimmerman dreams to right the degradation in America by returning to a "Culture of Life."
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Washington Post (registration required)
January 18, 2008
Mature Human Embryos Created From Adult Skin Cells
Scientists at a California company reported yesterday that they had created the first mature cloned human embryos from single skin cells taken from adults, a significant advance toward the goal of growing personalized stem cells for patients suffering from various diseases.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
November 29, 2007
Breakthrough signals a path to ethical cures
Christmas came early for scientists seeking a cease-fire in the stem cell wars. When research teams in the United States and Japan announced last week that they had produced human cells with the traits of embryonic stem cells without using human eggs or embryos, scientists responded with breathless enthusiasm.
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Missouri Cures Without Cloning Press Release
November 27, 2007
Evidence Clear: Human Cloning Is Not Necessary
So Why are the Cloning Supporters Still Fighting?
ST. LOUIS, MO - The past week has seen an overwhelming amount of media attention on last weekÕs breakthrough announcement that scientists are able to ÒreprogramÓ ordinary skin cells to take on the properties of embryonic stem cells. This rather simple, safe and cost effective technique proves human cloning is neither necessary nor relevant in the search for lifesaving treatments and cures.
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The Mercury News
November 23, 2007
Stem-cell science outruns political debate
Research teams at two prestigious universities announced a major feat of biological alchemy this week: They've taken ordinary human cells and turned them into cells with all the characteristics and promise of embryonic stem cells.
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New York Times
November 22, 2007
Man Who Helped Start Stem Cell War May End It
If the stem cell wars are indeed nearly over, no one will savor the peace more than James A. Thomson. Dr. Thomson's laboratory at the University of Wisconsin was one of two that in 1998 plucked stem cells from human embryos for the first time, destroying the embryos in the process and touching off a divisive national debate.
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Los Angeles Times
November 22, 2007
Beyond the embryo fight
The debate over cloning embryos for stem cell research has been one of the most divisive and unpleasant public controversies of the last decade. Partisans on both sides have sought to polarize the issue for political advantage rather than look for middle-ground positions that a majority of Americans would welcome.
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CNN
November 20, 2007
'Milestone' stem cell advance reported
NEW YORK (AP) -- Scientists have made ordinary human skin cells take on the chameleon-like powers of embryonic stem cells, a startling breakthrough that might someday deliver the medical payoffs of embryo cloning without the controversy.
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The Pathway
November 7, 2007
Five alleged violations of Missouri Constitution detailed
Count IV of the complaint filed Oct. 19 in Cole County Circuit Court by Cures Without Cloning alleges that Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee violated five sections of the Missouri Constitution in writing the ballot summary, fiscal note and fiscal note summary for an initiatiave proposal concerning embryonic stem cell research. Those alleged violations are in Article I, Sections 2, 3, 8 and 25, and in Article III, Section 49. Here is that portion of the complaint:
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 24, 2007
Stem cell primer
The Post-Dispatch needs a primer on somatic cell nuclear transfer and cloning ("The first casualty," Oct. 16). A definition from Stedman's Medical Dictionary: "SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer) is the placement of any body (somatic) cell nucleus into an egg (ovum) where the natural nucleus has been removed. This results in the creation of a cloned human being at the embryonic stage."
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Kansas City Star
October 21, 2007
Missouri ballot proposal on cloning skillfully dances around the issue
Supporters of a Missouri constitutional amendment are crying foul over the latest ballot summary by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 21, 2007
Second Casualty: Truth
Regarding the editorial on embryonic stem cell research, "The first casualty" (Oct. 16): Unfortunately, the editorial created the second casualty: the truth.
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MissouriNet
October 19, 2007
Carnahan Again Criticized Over Wording of Anti-Cloning Ballot Initiative
A group involved in last year's effort to defeat a Constitutional amendment involving stem cell research is making known its feelings over the wording of an initiative proposal to limit certain forms of that research. Jaci Winship of Missourians Against Human Cloning says the final wording on the ballot question proposed by the group Cures Without Cloning is misleading and confusing, and she blames Secretary of State Robin Carnahan for that.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 18, 2007
Carnahan fumbles again in Missouri's cloning battle
Two years ago, when Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan was drafting a ballot summary for Amendment Two, she faced a decision.
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National Review
October 18, 2007
More Missouri Manipulation
Missouri media have a problem reporting the facts when it comes to human cloning and stem-cell research. The Kansas City Star and reporter Kit Wagar have become notorious for their bias in this area, and now the editors at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch show that they are not interested in a fair fight.
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National Review Online
October 12, 2007
Missouri Manipulation
The human-cloning fight rages on in Missouri and state officials are once again taking sides and tricking voters. But possibly the worst fraud yet came Wednesday from Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. Last year a pro-cloning constitutional amendment, disguised as an anti-cloning measure and promising Òtreatments and cures,Ó passed by a razor-thin margin Ñ despite a record-breaking $30 million dollar campaign war chest, financed almost exclusively by one billionaire with big plans. It took the art of dishonest politics to a whole new level.
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Technology Review
October 5, 2007
Human-Animal Cybrids
Over the past year, a major ethical debate has raged in the United Kingdom over whether scientists should be allowed to use animal eggs in their attempts to create cloned human embryonic stem cells. Scientists say that these cells could lead to the development of the first-ever human-cell models of complex genetic diseases and, eventually, new tissue-replacement therapies. Lack of human eggs has presented an enormous obstacle: eggs are collected via a lengthy and potentially painful and risky procedure that few women are willing to undergo.
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The Times
September 18, 2007
Disgraced cloning scientist flees
SEOUL - Disgraced South Korean cloning scientist Hwang Woo-Suk has fled to Thailand to escape controversy and continue his research, associates said today. Hwang and some 10 other researchers have been in Thailand for two months, focusing on research into the cloning of pet animals and the production of stemcells that could be used for cell treatment, they said.
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The Maneater (University of Missouri)
September 14, 2007
Doctor backs anti-cloning initiative
As a spinal-cord injury specialist, I have dedicated my career to improving the lives of my patients. Over the years, as medical research has progressed, one of the biggest challenges for physicians like me has been to bridge the gap between providing hope and providing false hope.
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Columbia Daily Tribune
September 5 , 2007
Anti-cloning group not against useful research
Editor, the Tribune: I am writing in response to Jason Rosenbaum's Aug. 22 story on the Cures Without Cloning initiative - "Stem cell research opponents launch ban effort." Contrary to your headline and the tone of the story, the Cures Without Cloning effort isn't about opposing research - it's about prohibiting the dangerous, unproven and unnecessary practice of cloning human beings.
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Springfield News-Leader
September 4, 2007
Further dialogue needed on cloning
The discussion is supposed to be over. The 2006 amendment to the Missouri Constitution protection of embryonic stem cell research was supposed to end debate and establish in our state's most sacred legal document where we stand. Not quite.
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Joplin Globe
September 3, 2007
Stem-cell transplants provide hope for family of blind girl
WEBB CITY, Mo. Ñ Rylea Barlett was born blind six years ago today. Her optic nerves did not develop. She was diagnosed when she was a few months old. Doctor after doctor gave her no hope of ever seeing. On July 4, the girl received the first of five stem-cell transplants. The stem cells were from umbilical cords. The transplants were done in a remote hospital in China.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
August 30, 2007
The word game is up; time for a true cloning ban
Given their victories in recent years, Missouri's biotech barons should have spent 2007 celebrating. Repeated efforts by state lawmakers to enact a cloning ban had succumbed to defeat, thanks largely to biotech-friendly Gov. Matt Blunt. And last fall, biotech leaders had pre-empted those legislative threats by mounting a successful campaign to carve special protection for research cloning into the state constitution.
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National Review Online
August 24, 2007
Third Clone War
The battle in Missouri over cloning did not end when Amendment 2 - the ballot measure that guaranteed scientists' right to clone for the purpose of doing embryonic stem-cell research - won a contentious fight last November. Leaders of the newly formed coalition Missouri Cures Without Cloning (MCWC) appeared yesterday at a Jefferson City press conference to announce the filing of a state constitutional amendment for the 2008 ballot, which would ban all human cloning in the state, including the cloning of human embryos for their stem cells.
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Belleville News Democrat
August 23, 2007
Stem cell amendment opponents back group's new proposal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Opponents of a stem cell amendment passed nine months ago in Missouri say they support a new, proposed ballot measure seeking to ban a controversial research method that uses human embryos.
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Press On Blog
August 23, 2007
Can Missouri's Press say C-L-O-N-I-N-G?
Missouri's leading newspapers had some trouble reporting fairly the press conference held yesterday by Cures Without Cloning. The Springfield News Leader headlined a story by Associated Press writer David Lieb: "Proposal seeks to ban type of cell research." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, also using Lieb's piece bannered the article with "Cell transfer procedure is targeted." And the Joplin Globe, also parroting the AP article used "New proposal seeks to ban certain embryonic stem-cell research."
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Missourinet
August 22, 2007
Campaign Launched to Place Anti-Human Cloning Initiative on Ballot
An initiative similar to 2006's Amendment 2, which dealt with stem cell research, could be on the ballot in November of 2008, if not earlier. A group known as "Cures Without Cloning" has filed papers with the Secretary of State's office to start the process that the group will lead to its effort to, in its words, "clarify the language" approved by voters who cast ballots in favor of Amendment 2, which authorizes all forms of stem cell research legal under federal law.
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Missourians Against Human Cloning
August 22, 2007
Cures Without Cloning Initiative Launched
A coalition of concerned Missouri citizens, doctors, and academics today launched the "Cures Without Cloning" initiative to prohibit human cloning in Missouri. Dr. Lori Buffa, of St. Peters, Missouri, filed proposed ballot language with the Secretary of State's office this morning.
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Columbia Daily Tribune
August 14, 2007
Stowers complaints on politics are unjustified
Editor, the Tribune: The front-page article in the July 22 Tribune, "Lab Warns of Politics in Research" by Jason Rosenbaum, was ironic because the Stowers Institute complained about politics interfering in medical research. It was the Stowers Institute that initiated the political process by openly supporting and financing the deceptively worded Amendment 2 to redefine cloning as well as deny that it would promote human cloning.
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The Kansas City Star
June 23, 2007
AS I SEE IT | Look beyond cloning for medical breakthrough
"Maddening" is the term The Kansas City Star used in a June 10 editorial ("Opposition and uncertainty have caused scientists to locate elsewhere") to decry the supposed "narrow political opposition" to embryonic stem-cell research in Missouri from "interest groups and politicians (who) are determined to use their religious views to restrict science."
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The Herald Sun
June 22, 2007
Cloning as dead as Dolly
STRAIGHT after Victoria voted to legalise cloning comes the news that this repulsive and unnecessary science is as dead as Dolly the sheep. But the research was in time to be heard at the International Society for Stem Cell Research cloning conference in Cairns.
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The Washington Post
June 20, 2007
Bush Moving to Bolster Stem Cell Alternatives
President Bush, under increasing pressure to relax his restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, plans to issue an executive order today to encourage government agencies to support research that offers the promise of creating medically useful stem cells without destroying human embryos, according to senior administration officials.
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U.S. News & World Report
June 10, 2007
A New Source for Stem Cells?
Congress wasted no time last week jumping on the groundbreaking notion that ordinary adult cells could eventually replace human embryos as the source of stem cells. Opponents of the use of embryos seized on the development to argue that stem cell research could go forward without embryos. And proponents claimed that embryos were needed just as much as ever because of uncertain human applications for the technique.
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Wall Street Journal
June 6, 2007
A Stem-Cell Heretic Makes His Case
Embryonic stem-cell researchers are prone to touting the potential of their work to treat all sorts of ailments, from diabetes to Parkinson's disease. Don't bet on it, says James Sherley, a stem-cell specialist himself, who has become a notable heretic in the field.
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Missourians Against Human Cloning
April 20, 2007
Press Release
St. Louis, MO (April 20,2007) The most recent MEC report indicates human cloning proponents contributed $133,834 from their PAC, Supporters of Health Research and Treatments to a number of legislators on both sides of the aisle. The wealthy bio-tech special interests have vast resources and have consistently spent substantial sums to influence legislators and promote unethical, unproven human cloning research in our state.
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CNNMoney.com
April 5, 2007
New stem cell treatments on the way
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Two new stem cell treatments could be entering the U.S. market next year. Two biotechs, Cytori Therapeutics and Osiris Therapeutics, each hope to get their experimental stem cell products approved by the Food and Drug Administration and into the U.S. market by 2008.
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One News Now
March 31, 2007
Sen. DeMint, others say human cloning crosses ethical line
Dismayed that states like Iowa and Missouri have approved human cloning, some U.S. senators are once again seeking to ban the practice, calling for it to be criminalized.
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The Kansas City Star
March 7, 2007
Hundreds rally at Mo. Capitol against embryonic cloning procedure
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Hundreds of opponents of embryonic stem cell research crammed the Capitol halls Wednesday urging a statewide election on whether to overturn a voter-approved constitutional protection for such research.
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Initiative Lanuage