Published February 20, 2007 State Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, represents District 32. The district includes the northwest section of the Drake area, the Beaverdale area, and the Hoover area of Des Moines, plus all of Urbandale in Polk County. He can be reached at the statehouse at 281-3371, at home at 276-2025 or by e-mail at brad.zaun@legis.state.ia.us. Zaun: Cloning ban didn't need to be repealed By BRAD ZAUN SENATE DISTRICT 32 This week the Senate passed legislation that removed Iowa's ban on human cloning. The legislation, SF 162, not only lifted the ban on human cloning but changed the definition of human cloning. What supporters of the bill do not want you to hear is that this legislation is not needed, period. They claim this repeal is necessary so that they can do research on stem cells. Yet, the facts are that scientists in this state can already do research on stem cells, including embryonic stem cells. Iowa's ban on human cloning, which was passed with bipartisan support in 2002, is silent on the issue of embryonic stem cell research. It has allowed researchers in Iowa to continue searching for answers to chronic illnesses. The question, however, before the Senate this week was not about stem cell research, but whether to lift the ban on human cloning. To say it is about stem cell research is just another example by some to try and pass an initiative by calling it something else. It's shameful that the bill's supporters have clouded the issue with promises of cures for debilitating diseases. They give false hope to Iowans with cancer, Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis. During the debate, I supported an amendment that returned the bill to banning human cloning. This new legislation will do very little in helping to provide cures. In fact, the only type of stem-cell research that has brought about any advances to date has been research conducted on adult stem cells. This type of research is allowed in Iowa.