PATIENTS鈥� groups and scientists are gearing up for a fight in the wake of a
US House of Representatives vote for a ban on all human cloning, including
therapeutic cloning and cloning for research purposes.
The bill, introduced by Republican Dave Weldon from Florida and passed by 265
votes to 162, would make any form of human cloning a criminal offence punishable
by up to 10 years in jail. It must now be passed by the Democrat-controlled
Senate.
That could well happen since the bill has won cross-party support, and the
leader of the Senate, Democrat Tom Daschle of South Dakota, is known to dislike
the idea of cloning. 鈥淚鈥檓 very uncomfortable with even cloning for research
purposes,鈥� he told a news conference last week.
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A ban on reproductive cloning鈥攃reating babies genetically identical to
an adult鈥攈as widespread support. The controversy is about whether cloning
should be allowed for research and therapeutic purposes as most scientists and
patients鈥� groups want
(快猫短视频, 30 June, p 5).
The House rejected an alternative bill allowing this.