Disturbing News Regarding Cloning Research

Last week the journal Nature reported that Shoukhrat Mitalipov at the Oregon Health and Science University successfully cloned primate (monkey) embryos.  This milestone went largely unrecognized by the public, probably because it was not recognized as being distinct from other forms of embryonic stem cell research.

Now that cloning has been accomplished in monkeys, the leap to human cloning is likely to be a small hurdle.  Cloning of non-primate species (Dolly the sheep and others) is commonplace, but scientists were previously unable to perform the technique in primates.

This procedure differs from embryonic stem cell cloning in that the latter involves two gametes, i.e., egg and sperm.  That embryo can obviously develop into a complete human; alternatively, its stem cells can be harvested and "grown" into other tissues.  These cells, however, are immunologically distinct from both donors.  Thus, an organ cultured from stem cells may still evoke an immune response (i.e., rejection) in a transplant/implant recipient.

Cloned stem cells, however, are genetically and immunologically identical to the donor.  Hence, there is no likelihood of rejection.  Further, it is expected that tumor formation (a common drawback to other stem cell cultures) will be reduced or absent.  This would be true "therapeutic cloning."

The likelihood of cloning a human is still remote.  However, it is quite likely that absent legislative intervention, individuals of means will eventually be able to buy cells, tissues (and eventually, complete organs) harvested from their own clones.  In the words of Rev. Thomas Berg of the Westchester Institute, the pursuit of applying this cloning technique to humans "would be one of humanity's darkest endeavors."

Dr. Kim Shaftner is a Medicolegal Fellow at the American Center for Law and Justice, and a second-year student at Regent University School of Law.  He received his MD from Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1980.