Contact: Bethany Burrell, Georgia Right to Life, 770-339-6880

NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 26, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Georgia has a great opportunity to attract cutting edge biotechnology research to the state, while protecting pre-born children and human dignity," said Dan Becker, President of Georgia Right to Life.

HB 481, The Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act, is designed to help bring biotechnological companies to Georgia by removing uncertainty for venture capitalists and companies. The measure has five co-sponsors.

"This bill demonstrates the prolife communities' willingness to work with companies to advance medical research and improve lives, while not killing children or changing what it means to be human," Becker said.

He added that the proposal is compatible with and complements Governor Deal's efforts to make Georgia one of the leading biotech states in the country.

The measure ensures the freedom to pursue responsible and ethical research that does not violate basic human rights, especially the right to life at all stages of development. It also protects the fundamental nature of human dignity.

The bill is not designed to prevent practices currently used to treat human infertility. It would, however, ban experiments involving human and non-human gametes.

If approved, the bill would prevent: the creation of human/animal hybrids ("chimeras"); reproductive and therapeutic cloning and creating children at the earliest stages of development with the intent to kill them.

Georgia Right to Life promotes respect and effective legal protection for all innocent human life from its earliest biological beginning through natural death. GRTL is one of a number of organizations that have adopted Personhood as the most effective prolife strategy for the 21st century.