The Public Side of Science: The Cloning Three Ring Circus

In this century, we are unlikely to face biomedical issues more complex and controversial than that of human cloning coupled with embryonic stem cell research. With the stakes so high — promises of cures and therapies for a host of devastating diseases and medical conditions set against impassioned disputes about when life begins — the cloning debate has evolved beyond the realm of scientific discourse and into the spotlight of public opinion. Unfortunately, this intense scrutiny, largely fueled by the media, has resulted in the misrepresentation of facts, and the twisting of scientific opinions as statements about cloning are often taken out of their appropriate context. In an attempt to counteract this damaging trend, The Science Advisory Board decided to poll its members about some of the most controversial aspects of the cloning debate.
The majority of scientists surveyed believe that human therapeutic cloning research should be permitted. Furthermore, 68 percent of the scientists state that there should never be a complete national ban on all human therapeutic cloning research. Only a small minority (less than 10 percent) thinks that such research should not be allowed. The majority of life scientists who participated in this study strongly believe that human therapeutic research should proceed primarily so as not to delay or forgo critical medical benefits for patients. There appears to be a general consensus that a national policy on human therapeutic cloning research should be developed and it should clearly distinguish between therapeutic and reproductive cloning research. Furthermore, the policy should provide regulations on therapeutic cloning research that include review of research proposals by committees made up of both scientific and medical researchers as well as ethicists and other relevant professions.

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