Sub. S.B. 243*
128th General Assembly
(As Reported by S. Health, Human Services and Aging)
Sens. Buehrer, Carey, Coughlin, Faber, Gibbs, Grendell, Jones, Schaffer
BILL SUMMARY
· Prohibits the creation of a human-animal hybrid associated activities.
· Imposes, for violating any of the prohibitions, a criminal penalty consisting of imprisonment of up to five years and, if monetary gain resulted from the violation, a fine of at least $1 million.
· Exempts certain research activities and scientific procedures from the prohibitions regarding human-animal hybrids.
CONTENT AND OPERATION
(R.C. 3701.95(A) and (B))
The bill prohibits a person from knowingly doing any of the following:
(1) Creating or attempting to create a human-animal hybrid;
(2) Transferring or attempting to transfer a human embryo into a nonhuman womb;
(3) Transferring or attempting to transfer a nonhuman embryo into a human womb;
(4) Transporting or receiving for any purpose a human-animal hybrid.
The bill defines a "human-animal hybrid" as any of the following: (1) a human embryo into which a nonhuman cell or a component of a nonhuman cell is introduced so that it is uncertain whether the human embryo is a member of the species Homo sapiens, (2) a hybrid human-animal embryo produced by fertilizing a human egg with a nonhuman sperm, (3) a hybrid human-animal embryo produced by fertilizing a nonhuman egg with a human sperm, (4) an embryo produced by introducing a nonhuman nucleus into a human egg, (5) an embryo produced by introducing a human nucleus into a nonhuman egg, (6) an embryo containing at least haploid[1] sets of chromosomes from both a human and nonhuman life form, (7) a nonhuman life form engineered such that human gametes[2] develop within the body of a nonhuman life form, or (8) a nonhuman life form engineered such that it contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or predominately from human neural tissues. "Human embryo" is defined as an organism of the species Homo sapiens during the earliest stages of development from one cell up to eight weeks.
(R.C. 3701.95(C))
The bill specifies that its prohibitions regarding human-animal hybrids do not prohibit either of the following: (1) research involving the use of transgenic[3] animal models containing human genes, or (2) xenotransplantation[4] of human organs, tissues, or cells into recipient animals other than animal embryos.
(R.C. 3701.99(D))
A person who violates the bill's prohibitions regarding human-animal hybrids is subject to a criminal penalty that generally consists of a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years. If the offender derives pecuniary gain as a result of the violation, the offender is also subject to a fine of not less than $1 million and not more than an amount equal to two times the amount of the gross pecuniary gain if that amount is more than $1 million.
HISTORY
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ACTION |
DATE |
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Introduced |
03-18-10 |
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Reported, S. Health, Human Services & Aging |
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S0243-I-128.docx/jc
* This analysis was prepared before the report of the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee appeared in the Senate Journal. Note that the list of co-sponsors and the legislative history may be incomplete.
[1] "Haploid" means having a single set of chromosomes, representing the normal complement of the species. In humans, the haploid number is "23." (Dorland's Medical Dictionary (online version), available at: <http://www.mercksource.com>.)
[2] A "gamete" is one of two haploid reproductive cells, male and female, whose union is necessary in sexual reproduction to initiate the development of a new individual (Id.).
[3] "Transgenic" means relating to a segment of recombinant DNA that has been transferred from one genome to another (Id.).
[4] "Xenotransplantation" means any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation, or infusion into a human recipient of either (1) live cells, tissues, or organs from a nonhuman animal source, or (2) human body fluids, cells, tissues, or organs that have had ex vivo contact with live nonhuman animal cells, tissues, or organs (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Vaccines, Blood & Biologics: Xenotransplantation, available at <http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/xenotransplantation/ default.htm>).