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UW-Madison “gene swapping” discovery is not progress
PLW Letterhead

Monday, February 10, 2003


Contact: State Director Peggy Hamill or Legislative Affairs Director Matt Sande
(262) 796-1111 or (414) 416-0489

UW-Madison “gene swapping” discovery
is not progress



Today’s announcement that UW-Madison scientists James Thomson and Thomas Zwaka have found a way to swap genes in and out of human embryonic stem cells rather than mice is yet another attempt at experimentation and manipulation of human life at its earliest stages.

“Immediately after President Bush’s decision eighteen months ago to fund further experimentation on ‘existing’ human embryonic stem cell lines, Pro-Life Wisconsin warned it would serve to expand the killing of embryonic persons, not stop it,” said Peggy Hamill, State Director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. “This so-called ‘progress’ will create a renewed demand for more embryonic stem cells, which are procured by destroying human embryos.”

“The stated intent for this latest research is the study and treatment of disease,” added Matt Sande, Legislative Affairs Director of Pro-Life Wisconsin. “While a commendable goal, we fear that further experimentation on existing embryonic stem cell lines will inexorably lead to the demand for and destruction of more human embryos. We cannot sacrifice some for the good of all. A human embryo is not some pre-human cellular glob – it is a unique human life.”

Pro-Life Wisconsin will continue to advocate on behalf of ethical research – not that which ends the lives of defenseless human beings in their earliest stages of development.