World ban on human cloning, UK stands up to US pressure

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 30 Aug 2004 - 13:00 PDT

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Great Britain's best scientists are standing up to American government pressure to get a worldwide ban on all types of human cloning by backing an international campaign against American efforts.

68 academies, among them the prestigious Royal Society (UK), are urging the United Nations to ban reproductive human cloning but not the therapeutic use of the technology.

If the Bush Administration has its way, there could be a worldwide ban as soon as October.

Even though a UN ban would not compel member states to sign up, researchers worry that this move alone could be the last nail in the coffin for stem cell research.

If the UN does ban all forms of human cloning, the UK will not sign up, says Prof. Richard Gardner, Chairman, The Royal Society's Working Group on Stem Cell Research and Cloning. He added "To effectively stop cowboy cloners claiming that their work on human reproductive cloning is acceptable, because it is not outlawed throughout the world, a UN convention must be passed that all countries are willing to endorse."

Historically, the UK tends to support the USA in international matters. Over the last couple of years, the British public's appetite for this kind of blind support has dropped dramatically.

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