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American Morning

Stem Cell Research Debate Set to Begin on Capitol Hill

Aired July 18, 2001 - 09:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Embryonic stem cell research is an extremely controversial medical issue. And you're looking at live pictures today, as lawmakers are again taking up this debate. It's the topic of a congressional hearing getting under way right now. Supporters of the research say it could lead to cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, but many people are opposed because they say isolating the cells requires the death of a human embryo.

CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow is live on Capitol Hill with the latest and waiting for this to begin. Hi, Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Well, you see in your picture there, a couple of senators, Senator Orrin Hatch who going to be speaking shortly, but another Republican senator is also going to be speaking at that hearing.

And that's Senator Bill Frist. He is a Republican. He's from Tennessee. He is also a heart surgeon. And why it's important what he's going to say is because he's had particular influence with the White House. He has been sort of a point man for the Republicans on health policy issues because of his role as a surgeon. He has spent a long time studying stem cell, embryonic stem cell research. And this morning, we understand, he's going to come out strongly in favor of embryonic stem cell research.

I can read you part of what he will say. He's going to say, "Let me be absolutely clear. I hold strong pro-life and pro-family values. I strongly oppose abortion." But he goes on to say, "I conclude that support of embryonic stem cell research is consistent with and advances pro-life and pro-family values."

A very important statement, again Kyra, because of his role as an adviser to the President. A lot of people have been waiting to see what will Senator Bill Frist would say. And some think that the President may even take some cues from Senator Bill Frist. Now this Senate hearing follows yesterday's hearing before a House panel. That hearing, very emotional yesterday with several families coming forward with personal stories.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): John and Lucinda Borden adopted their 9-month-old twins, but not at birth. Two years ago, the Bordens went through an agency and adopted frozen embryos. Three were implanted in Lucinda. And Luke and Mark were born. The Bordens are emphatic about their views that using embryos for stem cell research is ethically wrong. A point John Borden made passionately to a House panel.

JOHN BORDEN, WITNESS: And I would like to ask every member of this committee, especially the members that aren't here. And that question is, which one of my children would you kill?

SNOW: But opponents of embryonic stem cell research say there are thousands of frozen embryos in fertility clinics around the nation that would never to be adopted.

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R), UTAH: The reality today is that each year, thousands of embryos are routinely destroyed. Why shouldn't these embryos slated for destruction be used for the good of mankind?

SNOW: And their side has a human face as well. 12-year-old Molly and Jackie Singer skipped a vacation to come to Washington. Molly has juvenile diabetes.

MOLLY SINGER: So far I have had 21,000 shots and 28,000 finger pokes.

SNOW: She says that the research on the stem cells offers promise for a cure.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: Now, this morning, the Senate take up this whole issue again, waiting for the President to make a decision. We understand from Senator Hatch that he expects the President to make that decision after he returns from his European trip.

And Senator Hatch and other supporters of embryonic stem cell research saying that if the President decides to stop federal funding of that research, then they will pursue legislative action, a the bill here on Capitol Hill, to try to restore that funding. Back to you.

PHILLIPS All right, our Kate Snow live on the hill. Thanks much. And that Senate hearing is now under way. We are monitoring it for you and we will bring you the latest as this hearing continues. Leon?

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, you know, many people don't even know exactly what stem cell research is.

CNN medical news correspondent Elizabeth Cohen now gives us a crash course.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just like human beings, stem cells start out as a sperm and an egg. The egg is fertilized in the laboratory.

By the day after fertilization, it splits into a two-celled embryo. The next day it's four cells, then eight cells.

By day six, the embryo is a multicell ball called the blastocyst. At this point in the embryo's life it's tiny, the size of the dot on an eye. It can either be implanted into a woman's womb, to start a pregnancy, or frozen, to start a pregnancy at a later time.

If the embryo is to be used for stem cell research, however, several hundred stem cells from inside the blastocyst are removed, which destroys the embryo.

The stem cells can then multiply indefinitely in the lab. Stem cells are essentially blank cells with no identity. In the lab, scientists treat the cells to make them specialized, to convert them, for example, into cardiac cells, liver cells, bone marrow cells, or pretty much any type of human tissue.

So how can that help someone who's sick? Let's say someone's spinal cord has been damaged. Doctors could take stem cells, convert them into nerve cells, and give an injection of healthy cells to repair the damage. The same principle applies to the heart: After a heart attack, some of the cardiac muscle dies; stem cells could be made into cardiac cells and then injected, healing the heart tissue.

This explains just one way to make stem cells, which is to take a leftover embryo from a fertility clinic. There are other sources of stem cells -- for example, aborted fetuses or umbilical cords. Doctors say each appears to have its own benefits, but that the fertility cells are especially interesting, because at just six days old, they may more easily convert to other types of body tissue, the name of the game when it comes to stem cell research.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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