Human cloning: Latest News

Futurist Keynote Speaker: Posts, Slides, Videos - What is Human Cloning? How to Clone. But Ethical?

Human cloning: who is cloning humans, how, why and who is paying
How human clones are being made - for medical research. Arguments for and against human cloning research. Why investors are moving away from human cloning and why human cloning now looks a last-century way to fight disease. Why some people want to clone themselves or even to clone the dead (and not just cloning pets).

Australian government gives first license to create cloned human embryos to try and obtain embryonic stem cells. (17 Sept 2008)

The in vitro-fertilization firm Sydney IVF was granted the license and reportedly has access to 7,200 human eggs for its research.

If the firm is successful it would be a world first, the Australian government's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), which granted the license.

United Nations has given up its attempt to introduce a worldwide legal ban on some or all types of human cloning (3 March 2005). On Tuesday its deeply divided general assembly voted to adopt a watered-down "declaration" that condemns all forms of human cloning but is not legally binding.  The declaration, which was passed by 84 votes to 34, with 37 abstentions, prohibits "all forms of human cloning inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life". But it has been widely criticised for being imprecise and meaningless.

Cloned cows may be safe to eat (12 April 2005) - claims made following health and safety tests on meat and milk from a small number of cloned cows culled from a herd of 100. Although fat content appeared to be a little higher in the clones, no other significant differences were found. Speaking on BBC World TV, Dr Patrick Dixon commented: "Although the meat may be safe, cloning cattle for farmers is a stupid thing to do from the commercial point of view. Failure rates are high, deformity and other development problems are very common, and the proceedure is expensive as well as slow. It would only be worth cloning a very special bull, to create a twins for breeding, but even then the costs might outweigh the benefits. We are very unlikely to see herds created this way, unless there is something very unique about them - for example if they had human genes added so that the cows produced something similar to breast milk. The technology exists to do this, but it is uncertain if such a product would be acceptable to mothers."

Dr Dixon pointed out that cloned herds would be very vulnerable to attack by bacteria, viruses or fungi. "Unlike normal herds, cloned animals show no genetic variation, so the same strain of virus that kills one animal would be likely to kill an entire herd. Every species relies on genetic variation to for resistance to disease and cloning would create real risks to farmers if carried out on a large scale - even supposing it were possible." For more see: cloning stories and human breast milk from cows?

Growing new tissue and organs - stem cell research and therapeutic cloning Bone marrow and other tissues could repair your brain, spinal cord and heart and cure diabetes or old-age blindness. Adult stem cells promise investor returns while embryonic stem cells and therapeutic cloning raise major ethical, legal, and image problems.

Korean and US scientists claim human cloning breakthrough - Woo Suk Hwany of Soeul National University in Korea announced in February 2004 that he had succesfully cloned healthy human embryos, removed embryonic stem cells and grown them in mice. Just a couple of weeks ealier, Dr Panos Zavos made another of his frequent cloning announcements about attempts he and others are making to produce healthy cloned babies. The Korean and US teams are using human cloning technology to try to create stem cell lines which can be used to study disease.

While they are opposed to the abuse of human cloning technology to produce babes, their own cloning advances are making life easier for people like Zavos. Either way, most stem cell research is shifting rapidly away from human embryo cloning and use of embryonic stem cells, to adult stem cell development. Embryonic stem cells are controversial to use (many countries have banned the work), hard to grow, hard to control (can become cancerous), are rejected in the body unless made to order for an individual by cloning, or used in an immune protected site like the brain.

That's why the makers of Dolly the Sheep ran out of human cloning money and went out of business. Human cloning for medical research is looking very last-century, and researchers are losing interest. Despite the UK passing laws several years ago allowing human cloning for research, not one application has yet been received. Investors really can't see the point either. Nor can many other nations including the rest of Europe, who have made human cloning illegal - even for medical research. In comparison, there is no shortage of commercial funding for adult stem cell research which is showing spectacular results in treating mice and rats with stroke, heart and spinal cord damage. Huge potential, no controversy, rapid progress, easy funding.

There is nothing particularly special about an embryonic cell from the genetic point of view: the genes are the same as in adults. The only difference is the nature of the chemical bath around those genes. But as we are discovering more, you don't need to put an adult nucleus into an egg to create the right environment: in many cases we can do so in other ways. Umbilical cord cells are also a useful alternative.

Professor Jonathan Slack at Bath University has managed to convert human adult liver cells into pancreas cells producing insulin, using a simple chemical switch. Others have restored normal function to rats whose spinal cords have been cut. Clinical trials using bone marrow to rebuild heart muscle have been successful. Regeneration of adult brain has been seen using adult cells in animals - and so on.

Press Association copy:

"Dr Patrick Dixon, an author and expert in the ethics of human cloning, dismissed the idea that today's announcement marked a breakthrough.

He said: "Except in tissues like the brain, there are huge problems with rejection of these embryonic stem cells if they are introduced into adults.

"It is very difficult for them to grow properly and very difficult to control them," he said. "The idea that this offers a real breakthrough is based on a scientific nonsense.

"But in this supposedly spectacular benefit lies a serious risk that this technology will be abused."

He cautioned that developments in these techniques would be "handing a gift" to controversial scientists such as Dr Panos Zavos and Clonaid intent on cloning human babies.

Dr Dixon said embryonic stem cell research was being overtaken by advances using adult cells. "Human cloning technology using embryonic stem cells is very last century. We do not need it.

"It is being overtaken rapidly by the spectacular advances in tissue repair using adult stem cells taken from the person who is unwell.

"Clinical trials are already showing results in people with heart failure while animal studies have shown successful repair in brain after stroke, heart muscle, spinal cord and other tissues."

Dolly the Sheep is dead - possibly the world's most famous animal was put to sleep on 14th February 2003 after developing progressive lung disease. Dolly was cloned from a dead adult sheep using frozen cells and born on 5th July 1996. There have been many reports that Dolly may have been getting old before her time, developing arthritis and possibly other problems. Scientists are waiting for the results of a post mortem to try to understand whether Dolly's latest problems were linked to the cloning technique, which commonly causes severe abnormalities. The big worry is whether teams trying to clone human babies will accidentally create very sick children.

Clonaid claims birth of first human clone (Eve) by caesarian section on 26th December 2002 and a second child in Europe (Netherlands) to a lesbian couple in early January, a third in late January to a Japanese couple who cloned their dead son, plus another to a couple from Saudi Arabia and a further child - country of origin not declared. But no evidence of any kind had been offered by mid February to substantiate their claims.

Born outside the US to an American woman, Eve was apparently created using Dolly technology - a skin cell and a human egg from the "mother" who is infertile. Clonaid claims 3 other "mothers" will give birth soon, one of which is carrying a twin of a dead child.

While many experts expressed doubts about the claims, Clonaid said that independent gene testing would prove the claim about Eve in less than a week. This promise was withdrawn after a lawsuit was begun in the US to make Eve a ward of court, on the basis that the "mother" was the baby girl's twin sister and the "mother" had no legal parental rights even though she had just given birth to her own twin. A similar court case was launched in the Netherlands after reports that the second birth was to a Dutch lesbian. Clonaid say that the "parents" are afraid their cloned babies will be seized and taken away from them permanently. In early February Clonaid said that testing of the Japanese baby boy was under way.

Editor: The claims could be true given the pace of human cloning research and the commitment to the project. For example Lu Guangxiu's team in Changsha China reported in January 2003 that they had also successfully grown 80 human clones, four of them to balls of hundreds of cells, the stage when IVF embryos are usually implanted. Even if Clonaid's claims are false, the momentum for human cloning is so great, the global race so intense, that we are likely to see clones born quite soon elsewhere - unfortunately - with huge physical and emotional risks to the babies created. More on this story about Clonaid, and press comments arguing against human cloning, by Dr Patrick Dixon.

Join the Debate! What are your own views?

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robert broad

May 30, 2018 - 11:41

no body writes here any more if I had a clone I would piss that clone off make him laugh then I would do a swop out clone stile uno trade clone in till I needed it there for am I into it na there a few I don't agree that what scientist do

literate male

January 15, 2018 - 15:00

Interesting article however the people in the comments sections apparently cannot spell.

J@cKy

June 02, 2017 - 23:29

I live in South-Africa
And wondering why dont people ... help clone ''Rhinos'' we have little of them .. :( . They are going badly going extinct. . What time is it there by .. u's
Its 12:29. In JHB --S-A

Ishita Basu

September 19, 2015 - 15:27

Hope to learn abt the latest progress in cloning,we shd make the clones as original but disease free,so that world may get populated by healthy good people.

Reply to Ishita Basu

literate male

January 15, 2018 - 14:59

Are you familiar with the terms mutations and pathogens?

Tiffany

July 14, 2015 - 22:07

I think the idea of cloning parts for repair is awesome! There are so many horrible diseases that could be cured if the specialized body part was grown for the individual. People could enjoy their lives disease free. That would change our world, medicine and the way people age and live their lives!

Trinity Jae Byrd

October 25, 2014 - 02:33

I think it's really brilliant. It's also good to continue carrying out the studies to find a safer way to clone- that could cause a problem. The only reason I found this website is because my closet friend Rob wants to clone this girl he really likes. Although I'm glad we stumbled upon this website- I really like it and will be a frequent visitor. Keep up the research! It could come in handy! 😊

ali

July 17, 2014 - 01:50

Its good for Husbands....leave the clone at home....real one can enjoy the world....LOLZZ.

But on serious note...if it is done to replace the spare parts,
e.g. I am smoker, and if my clone doesn't smoke may be I need kidneys in future. so they can be replaced with my clone.

On the other hand who knows that different Governments are working on human cloning, from whom they need special targets to be achieved. they might have the purpose to change other country ambassadors or PM's or even Presidents with putting there required memory in the cloned brain.

I believe its happening in hidden world of Government mafia.

Bob Shilling

April 02, 2014 - 15:29

how does that make you feel?

SUBHENDU BHATTACHARJEE

March 13, 2013 - 10:13

I AM STRONG SUPPORTER OF CLONE, WHATS WRONG IF ANY ONE WANTED TO GET BACK OF HIS BELOVED ONES.

Lucy

December 15, 2012 - 15:40

complete human cloning is morally wrong and dangerous. Any disease that kills the original is almost gauraented to kill to clones as there is no variotion. Whilst genetic manulation is becoming more possible it is expensive and slow

However cloning human organs is potentally denfical. Rejection is a big issue and finding a match is a length process. But organs cloned from the patient has little to no chance of rejection.

Reply to Lucy

Patrick Dixon

December 15, 2012 - 16:34

Hi Lucy. Thanks for posting this. Yes you are right that clones will have identical gene strengths and weaknesses. Do keep posting. Your thoughts will be read by 1000s.

Aakash

July 14, 2012 - 17:38

human clone

wat wil happen when a human is cloned?how's it posible 2 clone a human?

Alys-Mae

May 04, 2012 - 13:50

If I'm completely honest, I don't see the point in it. It would over populate the Earth and the clones would only have the physical characteristics of what they are a clone of; not the mental characteristics. They would be totally different!

Henry Rodriguez

April 01, 2011 - 06:40

reality check

People complaint about things that is done already in another dimensions in time the reality ie all this things have to happend and already happend the truth is that we live in a multiverse in dimensions in time therefore across the universes there is us somewhere here and somewhere there people don't panic you may never live long to experience quantum k s the end of all matter and anti matter as we know it what I hope is to die before that day armagedom cause everything will be destroyed, then a new me a new you will resurrected... Henry from New Haven CT, 06511

Reply to Henry Rodriguez

Alys-Maw

May 04, 2012 - 13:52

Re: reality check

That is not reality, its a theory + a personal opinion!

Maggie

March 05, 2011 - 03:40

Souls?

None of the clones would have souls, which would just be unnatural... But it is nevertheless amazing. I am eager to see what the future will hold.

Asween

March 02, 2011 - 02:32

Cloning

Everyone who say's human cloning is stupid, evil or bad haven't done their research properly. Research before you start arguing against it, or at least understand the basics of science, everything you see in movies isnt real.

gabby

February 22, 2011 - 14:19

for

no only overpopulated, man would become immortal dere4 breakn the creation policy of God

Reply to gabby

Helena

May 02, 2011 - 13:20

Re: for

Man wouldn't become immortal. Clones wouldn't have the memories and experiences of the person it was cloned from. It would be a whole new person in that respect; it would only look the same. Though I agree with overpopulation. And isn't it weird to include God in a scientific conversation? Unless you were making a point about scientists playing God.

ABDUL QADEER

October 23, 2010 - 10:03

human clone

I wana ask someone can tell me when human clone is made????pls give me any information about that ???

jolly

October 21, 2010 - 09:50

cloning

wen i tink of clonin i get scared of the future cos i know we cant stop it

your mam

September 08, 2010 - 10:50

cloning

cloning is wrong its just wrong cause your genes will be old and if you get cloned the person who has got cloned might die early

edward

May 10, 2010 - 19:03

siomeday human clones v.s. natural human

JC♥

December 03, 2008 - 10:38

CLONING!!!!!

ya and if everyone clones. then everyone isnt going to be unique. and you WONT know who is who. then probably like one of the person said, the city or else will be overpopulated and then what are we going to do. Exactly NOTHING BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO!!!!!!

antonia williams

November 24, 2008 - 18:53

help

yea i agree with u bt we is doin a debate on cloning and i would love 4 u to help me

fatom

November 21, 2008 - 00:20

crazy science

great than i can get a clone of myself and live another life!!!

indira

November 05, 2008 - 11:12

cloning

i think it is a good idea but now a days people are not so trasted & that may cause a evil or worse effect in near future.

jack

November 05, 2008 - 11:04

cloning

cloning is bad... if you can cure someone by making a clone(of any human) and using stem cells, its just like living off slaves again. its just a morden slave trade. pushing others down to push your self up....

Reply to jack

a guy

September 08, 2010 - 10:54

Re: cloning

i agree with you because i thing if you clone genes from an 30+ guy then clone him the baby that is born will be 30+ years old and that will not be good

qasim yad

October 24, 2008 - 12:47

Dear Nadia

soon your dream will become real
our knowlege is going towards just you dreamed
this will called " youm a youbasoon"

jack johnson

October 22, 2008 - 00:39

cloning

cloning is stupid because what if you cloned you animal you wouldnt konw if it would take on the same genes you real animal had i mean shure if you cloned a human you would make alot of money but it is a stupid thing to do even if you could get rich thaat is being gready i mean what if you were cloned you wouldnt wont some one elts loveing your clone because that would make you feel bad thank you

Jade and Zac

September 19, 2008 - 10:29

this is Jade and Zac and we are super duperly amazing.

cloning is funnnyyyyyy.y

byeeeee x

Reply to Jade and Zac

literate male

January 15, 2018 - 14:57

could you learn to not please

nadia reyes

August 07, 2008 - 23:39

human cloning

I'm all for it, my brother past on a year ago, someone shot him in the head, he was 18, I would like a clone of him!

Reply to nadia reyes

connor macmillan

September 19, 2008 - 10:34

i think that is a good idea but if evry1 clond there lved ones the world would becom over poulated

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