June 03, 2004
Half-Breed
Human reproductive cloning is illegal in the UK. Clones can be created but they must be destroyed by the 14th day. However, a loophole has been found in 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act which allows scientists to create human-animal hybrids without even needing a licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
It is already being done. According to The Times, "Last year, a team at Cambridge University fused the nuclei of adult human cells with frog eggs..." I'm not sure if this was an attempt to turn a frog into a prince, or vice versa.
This raises a myriad of theological issues. The whole question of the whether a clone has a soul is further complicated. Does a creature have to have 100% human DNA to be human? Did Christ die for frog-people? Clearly at this point there is little prospect of these embryonic lives maturing out of that stage. But if life begins at conception, what is conception?
Posted by david at June 3, 2004 03:56 AM | TrackBack