Toward therapeutic cloning and regenerative biology research forum: To clone or not to clone

Creating exact copies (clones) of an individual has long been a made-to-believe story in various cultures throughout mankind history. However, the report of successfully creating a genetic clone of an adult animal from a differentiated somatic cell [1] completely shocked the world. The cloning technology involves taking the nucleus from a somatic cell and then inserting that nucleus into an unfertilized egg that has had its own nucleus removed. The newly reconstructed embryo thus contains the entire genetic makeup of the donor somatic cell (except for mitochondria DNAs) and when transferred into the uterus of a surrogate mother can develop into an individual genetically identical to the nuclear donor. Cloning via nuclear transfer has succeeded in numerous mammalian species involving the use of various somatic cells as donors. These successes prove the principle that the nucleus of a differentiated somatic cell from a variety of adult tissues can be reprogrammed and converted to a pluripotent embryo cell capable of giving rise to all cell types, tissues and organs. While the technology of creating replacement cells, tissues or organs from our own body cells via nuclear transfer cloning (i.e., therapeutic cloning) is very promising, the possibility of cloning a human via this same technology (i.e., reproductive cloning) has created various ethical concerns and regulation debate. Little does the public realize that while the scientific community strongly supports cloning animals for purposes of agricultural improvement, biomedical research or saving endangered species, they are absolutely opposed to cloning a human being. The United Nations and all governments around the globe have called for a ban on reproductive cloning in humans. Unfortunately, the concerns about reproductive cloning in humans have led many countries to ban any form of cloning research in humans including therapeutic cloning. Because of the great potential of the cloning technology for potentially converting any somatic cell in our body into a pluripotent embryonic cell capable of giving rise to any desired cells, tissues or organs for replacement therapy, the United Kingdom became the first country with a policy supporting therapeutic cloning and permitting government funding for this type of research. In contrast, the United States government is calling for a total ban to any form of cloning research in humans. This ban clearly will result in the loss for competition of the potential therapies and medical advances for the US market.