Expansionary Institute

Michael Zey
futurist3000@aol.com

By Erik Kirschbaum

 
BERLIN, May 31 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder exposed a rift in his government on Thursday when he called for more freedom for genetic engineering, a position that causes discomfort in a country sensitive about Nazi abuses.

Sweeping aside concerns expressed by his justice minister and by President Johannes Rau, Schroeder said in a landmark speech to parliament he supported allowing test-tube embryos to be checked for genetic defects before implantation in the mother.

While the use of "preimplantation diagnostics" is controversial worldwide because it is seen as a step on the way to allowing the weeding-out of less-than-perfect embryos, the issue is particularly controversial in Germany. Nazi scientists practised diabolic experiments and euthanasia on the disabled in their pursuit of their theory of a "master race."

The Social Democrat chancellor said he was not in favour of creating human embryos solely for the purpose of research and said laws banning the practice would not be changed. But he said consideration should be given to allowing research on surplus embryos produced for implantation but then not used.

Industry and scientists have called for more freedom for gene research so Germany's biotechnology companies can compete globally. Relaxing laws could also promote research into diseases such as leukaemia, Parkinson's and cancer, they say.

Schroeder has cautiously endorsed that position, arguing jobs could be created and illnesses cured. His backing in the parliament debate was the strongest to date on a subject on which all major political parties are divided.

"We are not talking about tampering with the very essence of life or creating a genetically altered human being," Schroeder said. "The ethics of medicine and helping those with illness deserve as much respect as the respect due to creation."

NO PLANS FOR LAW BEFORE 2002

Partly because of the strong differences within his government, there are no plans to draft legislation on the emotive issue before an election in a year's time. Thursday's four-hour-long debate was parliament's first major discussion on a topic. No specific motion was debated and no vote was taken.

Earlier this month, President Rau, the largely ceremonial head of state who is, like Schroeder, a Social Democrat, issued a stern warning against putting business interests "actual or imagined" or health benefits research above moral imperatives.

Schroeder's Justice Minister, Herta Daeubler-Gmelin, has also spoken out firmly against allowing research on embryos. The SPD's parliamentary floor leader, Peter Struck, also said he had doubts about focusing on business interests.

Andrea Fischer, Schroeder's former health minister and a member of the Greens, warned pre-implantation diagnostics "could open the door for extensive genetic predetermination" -- such as parents picking the eye or hair colour of their offspring.

But Margot von Renesse, SPD chairwoman of parliament's ethics commission, backed Schroeder's position and said that it would be a mistake to "demonise" science.

"Taboos have to be broken in order for us to move forward," said von Renesse, who has made public her own personal battle with Parkinson's disease and hopes for a gene-based cure.

From the benches of the main conservative opposition, the Christian Democrats, some leading figures spoke out against easing restrictions on experimentation, reflecting the views of the Roman Catholic church, while others were in favour.

10:32 05-31-01
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