If you are having difficulty viewing this email, read it on our web site To ensure delivery, please add info@geneticsandsociety.org to your address book or contacts. November 19, 2009 WEBSITE BLOG ABOUT US PRESS ROOM DONATE SUBSCRIPTIONS Ten Years Later: Jesse Gelsinger’s Death and Human Subjects Protection Symbol over Substance Cloning for Kicks The Latest from Biopolitical Times Other News You can also follow the Center on our webpage, blog, RSS, weekly newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Ten Years Later: Jesse Gelsinger’s Death and Human Subjects Protection by Osagie K. Obasogie, Bioethics Forum Last month marked the tenth anniversary of Jesse Gelsinger's death — a powerful symbol of why researchers must do right by the subjects they depend upon and, moreover, why greater federal oversight of human research subjects is needed. Symbol over Substance by Jesse Reynolds, GeneWatch Cloning-based stem cell research has been more symbol than substance; more moving target than realistic goal. It has also been a monkey wrench in the gears for progressive advocates of responsible biotechnologies. Cloning for Kicks by Pete Shanks, GeneWatch Enthusiasm for cloning animals has survived the failure of the technique to develop as once expected. The Latest from Biopolitical Times Strong reactions from fertility docs to potential regulation by Jesse Reynolds Two controversial fertility specialists find it "shocking" and "ridiculous" that their leading industry group is discussing the codification of its nonbinding guidelines. A new line from the fertility industry? by Jesse Reynolds While the expulsion of Michael Kamrava from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine is encouraging, federal oversight of the $3 billion fertility industry is still needed. Womb Transplants in Two Years? by Osagie K. Obasagie A reality check greets British fertility researchers' claim that human womb transplants will be available in as little as two years. Battle Over Human Gene Patents Builds by Marcy Darnovsky A key government committee, a progressive news show, and a federal judge are all reconsidering human gene patents. ACLU Challenges California Prop. 69 by Osagie K. Obasogie Prop. 69’s arrestee provision marks a radical expansion of the government’s power to indefinitely retain intimate information about citizens – many of whom may have done nothing more than be accused of committing a crime. Genes and Jobs: U of Akron Tests the Testing Laws by Pete Shanks The University of Akron has a policy that could require any candidate for employment to submit a DNA sample, despite the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act. The rise and fall of hybrids in the UK by Jesse Reynolds The remarkable push by UK researchers for animal-human hybrid embryos is another strange tale of science politics and science policy. Hwang is Convicted by Pete Shanks Hwang Woo-Suk, the notorious Korean stem-cell and cloning researcher, was given a suspended two-year prison sentence and three years of probation by a Seoul court on Monday. Stem Cells Falling from Favor by Jesse Reynolds The reining in of stem cell expectations continues. Weighing Clinical Trial Evidence with a Thumb on the Scale? by Osagie Obasogie A recent study published in JAMA highlights the troublesome association between industry funding and clinical trial conclusions. Return of the GenRich? by Pete Shanks There has been a brief flurry of discussion about future separate species of humans. Other News Fertility doctors tighten guidelines in wake of "octomom" controversy [Quotes CGS's Marcy Darnovsky] by Kevin B. O'Reilly, American Medical News Among the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's recommendations: Physicians should warn patients about the dangers of multifetal pregnancies. 'Three parent babies' take a step closer to reality by Richard Alleyne, The Telegraph Scientists are a step closer to producing a controversial "three parent baby" after they successfully fertilixed a human egg with two biological mothers. Scientists 'five years' from producing artificial sperm and eggs by Mark Henderson, The Times (UK) Primitive human sperm and eggs and the germ cells that make them have been created from embryonic stem cells. Women's egg freezing gets boost New Scientist Egg freezing looks increasingly promising as an insurance policy for women who need or want to delay having children, according to the first systematic monitoring of the procedure. Two doctors sent to jail for propagating sex determination tests [India] Press Trust of India Two doctors were sentenced to three years imprisonment by a local court in India for propagating sex determination tests. Promises, Promises by Stuart Blackman, The Scientist Ill-judged predictions and projections can be embarrassing at best and, at worst, damaging to the authority of science and science policy. Suspects' DNA data plans changed [UK] BBC News The UK government has dropped plans to give ministers wide powers on holding innocent people's DNA data on record. Is it worth testing your genes? by Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Whether or not commercially available genetic tests actually provide any useful information remains in question. The $4400 Genome by Robert F. Service, ScienceNOW Daily News Complete Genomics may soon be able to sell full human genome sequences for less than $5000 apiece. For Sale: Human Eggs Become a Research Commodity by Katherine Harmon, Scientific American A decision to pay for eggs for stem cell studies sparks debate. California Awards Grants for Research Projects in Nonembryonic Stem Cells by Andrew Pollack, New York Times In a tacit acknowledgment that the promise of human embryonic stem cells is still far in the future, California’s stem cell research program awarded grants using mainly other, less controversial cells. Scientists want debate on animals with human genes by Kate Kelland, Reuters The UK's Academy of Medical Sciences launched a study to look at the use of animals containing human material in scientific research. Welcome to the Clone Farm by Karl Plume, Reuters Government approvals of meat from cloned animals have stirred controversy about whether tinkering with nature is safe, or even ethical, prompting major food companies to swear off food products from cloned animals. But consumers are likely already eating meat and drinking milk from the offspring of clones without even knowing it.