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A Chicago scientist plans to open a human cloning clinic within the year and hopes to produce the first human clone within 18 months. The scientist, Richard Seed, wants to offer the procedure to infertile couples. Dr Seed holds a doctorate in physics and is not medically qualified. He does, however, have experience in reproductive genetics and was involved in introducing the process of in vitro embryo transfer from farm animals to humans. Dr Seed's announcement has rekindled debate on the feasibility as well as on the ethical, moral, and legal consequences of human cloning. After the successful cloning of Dolly the sheep in Scotland last year, President Clinton banned federal funding for research into human cloning and proposed a law forcing a five year moratorium on such work. Acknowledging that the federal ban would not affect private research, President Clinton urged the private sector to adhere to the moratorium as well. ‘Any discovery that touches upon human creation is not simply a matter of scientific inquiry. It is a matter of morality and spirituality as well. That is why I’m urging …

The United Nations has delayed plans to agree a convention on the cloning of human embryos and announced last week that a working group will be set up to develop a declaration—a much weaker device that would not impose a comprehensive ban on reproductive cloning—to be voted on in three months' time. The recommendation comes after a meeting in October of the UN's sixth committee, which agrees legal issues, to consider two proposals on human cloning. The first proposal from Costa Rica, also supported by the United States, recommended a complete ban on both reproductive and therapeutic cloning. A second proposal from Belgium suggested a ban on reproductive cloning—which all 191 UN members oppose—but allowing member countries to …

The debate surrounding therapeutic cloning has intensified since the granting of the first UK license for its study in August this year. Jez Fabes and Francesca Mazzola outline some of the main ethical questions

A United Nations committee debated an international convention on human cloning at a meeting last week but failed to reach an agreement. Commentators were predicting, as the BMJ went to press, that a vote might take place next week. The meeting debated two proposals on human cloning. The first proposal, from Costa Rica and supported by the United States and more than 60 other countries, recommended a complete ban on both reproductive and therapeutic cloning. A second proposal from Belgium, co-sponsored by the United Kingdom, suggested a ban on reproductive cloning but would allow UN member countries to make their own decisions on therapeutic cloning. It had the support of about 20 countries. Many countries were still undecided as the BMJ went to press. At the meeting France agreed …

The Royal Society, the United Kingdom's national academy of science, has called on the United Nations to pass a resolution that bans reproductive cloning but allows carefully regulated therapeutic cloning when a UN committee meets this week to debate the issue. The sixth committee of the United Nations, which agrees legal issues, met this week, after the BMJ went to press to consider two proposals on human cloning. The first proposal, from Costa Rica, also supported by the United States, will recommend a complete ban on both reproductive and therapeutic cloning. A second proposal, from Belgium, is suggesting a ban on reproductive cloning but …

The United Kingdom has granted its first licence for researchers to create human embryonic stem cells by means of cell nuclear transfer, otherwise known as therapeutic cloning, prompting excitement among scientists—and anger among pro-life groups. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) granted the licence on 11 August to Professor Alison Murdoch and Dr Miodrag Stojkovic at the Newcastle Centre for Life, who will use the stem cells they generate to research diabetes, among other diseases. ![][1] Professor Alison Murdoch and Dr Miodrag Stojkovic of the Newcastle Centre for Life have been granted the first UK licence to conduct therapeutic cloning Credit: LIFE … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif

The long awaited report from President George Bush's Council on Bioethics has called for a four year moratorium on any human embryonic cloning, including research by the private sector as well as government financed research. The report was issued earlier this month at the council's last meeting before the summer recess, after six months' deliberation. The decision on the moratorium was reached with a 10 to seven majority, with one abstention. The minority opinion recommended that research proceed but with appropriate oversight. Council members rejected recommending an outright ban on cloning, the …

Don't criminalise scientists, says fictional couple Harry and Louise Big advertising has joined the battle in the United States over stem cell research. As recently as last month, a Gallup poll found that most Americans opposed both cloning for reproductive purposes and research cloning performed to harvest stem cells from human embryos. President George W Bush, referring to reproductive cloning and research cloning, said on 10 April, “I believe all human cloning is wrong, and both forms of cloning should be banned.” A bill banning all forms of cloning was passed in the United States House of Representatives last year. The current US Senate version—introduced by Republican senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Democratic senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana—not only prohibits all forms of human cloning, but sets civil and criminal penalties for violators of the law. The debate on the Senate bill, put off several times, is being heavily lobbied and is the source of a number of emotional advertising campaigns. Last April, an alliance of patient groups, concerned parents, and leaders in …

Ed Arlene Judith Klotzko Oxford University Press, £27.50, pp 328 ISBN 0 19 512882 6 Rating: ![Graphic][1] ![Graphic][2] ![Graphic][3] Any decision to proceed with human cloning ought to be taken by society and not by the enthusiastic scientists who devise and perfect the necessary techniques. Those, including the scientists, who doubt the capability of the public to make wise decisions, would do well to recall the opinion of Thomas Jefferson: “I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise that control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education” ( Thomas Jefferson on Democracy , Mentor Books, New York, 1939). [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif

The European Union is sending out contradictory messages to the medical and scientific community on the controversial issue of therapeutic cloning. Whereas the European Commission is calling for a rational debate to consider all the ethical and medical aspects, the European parliament believes that all research in this area should be banned. Members of the European parliament (MEPs) took an unexpectedly tough line last week when they adopted a highly critical resolution on human cloning by 237 votes to 230, with 43 abstentions. This states that therapeutic cloning “irreversibly crosses a boundary in research norms and is contrary to public policy.” It demanded binding legislation in each member state “prohibiting all research …

Medical professionals should be allowed to carry out a limited form of human cloning, an expert panel told the UK government last month. A final decision on the issue will be left to a free vote of MPs, but the government has endorsed the recommendations put forward by the chief medical officer's expert group on therapeutic cloning. Proposals put forward by …

Japan moved closer to imposing a legal ban on human cloning when an advisory body to its prime minister, Keizo Obuchi, ruled last week that current guidelines were inadequate. The panel, a subcommittee of the Science and Technology Council, argued that cloning has no positive utility, runs counter to respect for human life, and poses …

The UK government last week reaffirmed its policy that human reproductive cloning is ethically unacceptable by retaining a ban on this type of procedure. A new expert advisory group has been set up, however, to assess the potential benefits of cloning techniques for therapeutic purposes. The government was responding to a report on cloning published last year by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Genetics Advisory Commission that recommended cloning …

There is virtually no public support in the United Kingdom for cloning to be used for reproductive purposes even among groups who may benefit from the technique, according to a report published last week. The authors of the report, issued by the Wellcome Trust, found that many people were concerned about the therapeutic use of embryos and did not trust scientists …

Leading authorities in the United Kingdom have recommended that the government consider changing legislation to allow the cloning of human cells for therapeutic research but have reiterated their support for a ban on cloning for reproductive purposes in a report published this week. The report from the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has suggested that cell nucleus replacement techniques--cloning techniques used to develop tissues--should be permitted. However, it has …

The European parliament has called for a worldwide ban on the cloning of human beings after the successful cloning of a sheep by a research team based in Scotland (1 March, p 623). But despite strong pressure from Green MEPs, the parliament has rejected efforts to apply a similar ban to animal cloning. Instead, it has urged the European Union to consider legislation that would set out clear …