What are the thoughts of ASIA on cloning:
Does this go against scripture and why do you think so?
If God allows us to someday clone a human -- will it have a soul or
will it be a zombie?
Does anyone know who is on the Bishoprics Advisory Commission -- any
Christians?
Commission to Propose Rules
For Human Embryo Cloning
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- A presidential commission will propose that Congress enact
legislation allowing some researchers to create cloned human embryos but
ban use of the embryos to make human babies, a panel member said
Wednesday.
"The commission is not suggesting any bans or prohibitions with respect
to experimental procedures with human embryos that don't result in a
baby," said a panel member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The 18-member National Bioethics Advisory Commission, appointed by
President Clinton after the successful cloning of a sheep named Dolly in
Scotland, will make final recommendations at a meeting this weekend.
The commission will propose that privately funded scientists and doctors
be allowed to make cloned human embryos for research but not be allowed
to implant them into women's wombs, the panel member said.
"The issues that arose in the case of Dolly stemmed largely from the
prospect of creating an individual who would be genetically identical to
an individual who exists or previously exists and that is what we are
addressing," the panel member said.
The panel's recommendations on embryos were first reported by the
Washington Post Wednesday. The newspaper said it had obtained a copy of
the panel's proposals and interviewed panel members.
Mr. Clinton announced a moratorium on the use of federal funds for human
embryo cloning in February and appointed the panel of experts in
science, law and theology to make broad recommendations on the issue to
Congress.
The commission was asked to find common ground between those who see
cloning as an option for infertile couples and those who see human
cloning as unethical or immoral.
The panel has met five times at Mr. Clifton request and delayed its
final report by about two weeks in an effort to reach consensus.
"The most important thing is to get some rules about ethical conduct,"
said David R. Cox, a commission member and professor of genetics and
pediatrics at Stanford University.
Some panel members told the Associated Press last month that scientific
controls should be extended to "all research settings, whether in the
public or private sector."
"Our concern here is that an in virtu fertilization doctor will say,
'I'm not doing research, but using an innovative technique to help a
couple with severe infertility,' " said panel member Bernard Lo,
director of medical ethics at the University of California, San
Francisco.
Historically, in vitro fertilization doctors have used this argument to
avoid scientific oversight, Mr. Lo said.