Biotechnology Legislation and Genetic Material Basics

Legislation on Stem Cells and Cloning

UN Declarations on Cloning

Resolution adopted on 23 March 2005, stating that practices contrary to human dignity, such as reproductive cloning of humans, must be avoided.

Solemnly declares the following:

• The Member States shall take all measures necessary to adequately protect human life in the application of life sciences.
• Member States shall prohibit all forms of human cloning inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity and protection.
• Member States shall take the necessary measures to prohibit the application of genetic engineering techniques that may be contrary to human dignity.

Stem Cell and Cloning Law in Spain

In Spain, the Biomedical Law passed in 2007 allows therapeutic cloning and the obtaining of human embryonic stem cells, provided they do not lead to the creation of an embryo for reproductive purposes.

Thus, Spain joined European countries that allow cloning for research, such as Belgium, Britain, and Sweden. It is also legal in Japan, Israel, and Korea, among others.

Understanding DNA Structure

From a chemical point of view, DNA is a polymer of nucleotides, i.e., a polynucleotide.

Nucleotide Components

Each nucleotide consists of three units:

• A sugar molecule called deoxyribose.
• A phosphate group.
• One of four possible nitrogen compounds called bases: adenine (abbreviated A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C).

The DNA Double Helix

DNA is a double chain of nucleotides. The two strands or chains are complementary and are bound together by hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases. Adenine always binds to thymine, and guanine always binds to cytosine.

Understanding RNA Structure

For the information contained in DNA to be used by the cellular machinery, it must first be copied into a shorter string of nucleotides with slightly different units, called RNA.

RNA vs. DNA

The primary structure of RNA is similar to DNA, except for the substitution of deoxyribose with ribose and thymine with uracil. The RNA molecule is typically a single strand.

Like DNA, RNA consists of a chain of nucleotides. Each consists of:

• A molecule of a sugar called ribose.
• A phosphate group.
• A nitrogenous base. There are four types: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. Adenine is complementary to uracil, and guanine is complementary to cytosine.