Biotech company claims to have cloned human baby

Group, Mar/Apr 2003 by Roller, Julia

LAS VEGAS-Biotech company Clonaid shocked the world when it announced in early January that it had succeeded in cloning the first human baby. Experts agree that Clonaid's claim is unreliable, in part because the company was founded by a religious cult known as Raelians, who believe that human life was created by a race of aliens with a knack for genetic engineering. However, Clonaid's announcement has refocused attention on the controversial subject of cloning.

Almost everyone opposes the type of cloning Clonaid claims to have accomplished, in which genetic cells are duplicated in order to grow an identical person, but other types of cloning research are hotly debated. For example, some researchers claim that cloning embryonic stem cells has the potential to cure diseases such as Alzheimer's.

`Of course, all society--om scientists to politicians-is against human reproductive cloning," says Dr. Robert Lanza, medical director of biotech firm Advanced Cell Technology. "No one wants to see 100 copies of Madonna or Michael Jordan. But it would be tragic if this outrage spills over onto legitimate medical research that could cure millions of patients."

But those who support a total ban on cloning hope that the controversy stirred by Clonaid's claim will assist them in passing a bill in Congress.

"If you allow embryo cloning in research labs because of its supposed great potential," says Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., "you're going to have all these labs with all these embryos, and it will be that much easier for people like the Raelians to try to do reproductive cloning."

Sources. Time magazine, cnn.com, beliefnet.com

Why do you think the idea of human cloning is so strongly resisted? In the face of such strong opposition, why do you think biotech companies are interested in cloning humans?

What do you see as the difference between cloning cells to make a human or cloning cells to try to fight disease? Where do you draw the line between the domain of human scientists and doctors and the domain of God? For example, some Christians believe that any medical procedure interferes with God's will. Should humans go to every possible length to try to save and improve life here on earth, or are there certain areas where we shouldn't intervene? Explain.

Do you agree that if embryo cloning is allowed, it will eventually lead to reproductive cloning? Why or why not? Is it possible that God could breathe life and soul into a cloned baby? Could a cloned baby be considered to be created by God "through" technology? Why or why not?

Scripture links: Genesis 1:27-28; 2:7,21-22; Psalm 71:6; 139:13-16; Ezekiel 37:9-10; John 1:12-13; and Acts 17:25-29.

Julia Roller is a contributing editor for group. She's an assistant editor at HarperSanFrancisco in California.