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Scientists to defend human cloning plans
Scientists are set to defend their controversial plans for human cloning experiments, on Tuesday, to a U.S. science panel that is grappling with the safety and ethics of making genetically identical people.
Scientists are set to defend their controversial plans for human cloning experiments on Tuesday to a U.S. science panel that is grappling with the safety and ethics of making genetically identical people.
A National Academy of Sciences panel is gathering information in preparation for a report on whether the United States should impose a moratorium on human cloning, which the House of Representatives last week voted to outlaw.
A public meeting of the panel will feature presentations from Italian doctor Severino Antinori and Brigitte Boisselier, a biochemist and member of a UFO group known as the Raelians. Both have announced plans to create cloned babies for couples. Other scientists want to use cloning technology to test potential treatments for serious illnesses.
"Cloning will help us put an end to so many diseases, give infertile men the chance to have children. We can`t miss this opportunity," Antinori told reporters in an interview, on Monday. After arriving in Washington on Monday night, Antinori told reporters he could not imagine the U.S. government would close the doors to his scientific research. He said a U.S. ban on cloning would be a "return to the Dark Ages."
"Tomorrow, I want to explain the important possibilities for the future of humanity that come from understanding the genetic possibilities that come with therapeutic cloning," Antinori, added.
Many scientists warn of horrific consequences if anyone tries to apply the techniques used to create Dolly the sheep to producing cloned people. Animal cloning yields high failure rates, and experts warn that most human attempts would end in miscarriages or births of deformed babies. The Raelians, who believe in extraterrestrials and promote cloning as a chance for "eternal life," defended human cloning in a statement, on Monday touting Boisselier`s appearance before the panel of scientific advisers. The group said in vitro fertilization was similarly feared two decades ago but had led to 200,000 births of healthy children. Bureau Report
A public meeting of the panel will feature presentations from Italian doctor Severino Antinori and Brigitte Boisselier, a biochemist and member of a UFO group known as the Raelians. Both have announced plans to create cloned babies for couples. Other scientists want to use cloning technology to test potential treatments for serious illnesses.
"Cloning will help us put an end to so many diseases, give infertile men the chance to have children. We can`t miss this opportunity," Antinori told reporters in an interview, on Monday. After arriving in Washington on Monday night, Antinori told reporters he could not imagine the U.S. government would close the doors to his scientific research. He said a U.S. ban on cloning would be a "return to the Dark Ages."
"Tomorrow, I want to explain the important possibilities for the future of humanity that come from understanding the genetic possibilities that come with therapeutic cloning," Antinori, added.
Many scientists warn of horrific consequences if anyone tries to apply the techniques used to create Dolly the sheep to producing cloned people. Animal cloning yields high failure rates, and experts warn that most human attempts would end in miscarriages or births of deformed babies. The Raelians, who believe in extraterrestrials and promote cloning as a chance for "eternal life," defended human cloning in a statement, on Monday touting Boisselier`s appearance before the panel of scientific advisers. The group said in vitro fertilization was similarly feared two decades ago but had led to 200,000 births of healthy children. Bureau Report