The Reproductive Cloning Network

A pregnancy produced by a cloning, if animal studies are even the remotest kind of guide, has very little chance of making it to term. In animals, the success rate is 2%. There is good reason to believe it will be higher in humans. However, realistically speaking the birth of a healthy child conceived through cloning is more unlikely than likely.

The Raelian Religion does not have the best track record for authenticity They offered to clone anyone for a fee since 1997 at their facilities in the Bah mamas which ultimately turned out not to exist

In 2001 they were investigated by a grand jury in Syracuse, N. Y. on charges of “attempted internet fraud”.

Their laboratory in West Virginia was raided by the FDA and shut down. Their sponsor disavowed them in a 20/20 broadcast because he felt their main objective was to promote their religion and their prophet.

The Raelians have always approached the issue of human cloning from a financial promotional perspective.

In pursuit of those goals they have used their idealistic young female members to be egg donors and surrogate mothers.

That might be the situation regarding the Korean women that have become volunteers for their attempt at human cloning.

If these claims are true, it is only because the Raelians have used financial means to do what they could not do with the talent within their own organization.

The announcement of these pregnancies is terribly premature. Research in mammals conceived through human cloning show that abnormalities and difficulties during gestation in cloned animals is much different than in those conceived through traditional conception.

While most problems with offspring conceived in the traditional manner, 80% result in miscarriages in the first trimester, with cloned offspring, problems arise on a more extended basis One third arise during each of the thee trimesters of pregnancy

So, the announcement of an embryo conceived through cloning, even if successfully implanted in the womb does not mean that a child conceived through human cloning is imminent.

If we want to look at animal studies, the chance of success is around two percent. Even with the better technology and experience of IVF, the successful outcome of a cloned pregnancy today is very doubtful.

So, what is going to be society’s reaction to a normal or handicapped child conceived through cloning? Those opposed to this technology will use any handicap or deformity as “proof positive” that human cloning is wrong.

This alone should raise red flags among the general public. Think of Stephen Hawking and other handicapped individuals who have contributed to human society and life.

What is most troubling is the fact that fringe elements in our society are really shaping our national and international response to the entire idea of cloning.

This is especially important since cloning technology is much more important than reproductive cloning..

Even if the much promoted “implanted embryos” that the Raelians claim to have implanted actually exist, the media should not allow these bizarre groups to grab the spotlight and dominate the very important debate about stem cell research.

Reality indicates that the first child conceived through cloning will probably be Chinese.

This might not be as “exciting” as covering an alleged pregnancy in Korea. It just happens to be much more likely to happen.

Why does the media have to “rush” to the latest “scam” in following this debate? An embryo is not a healthy born child. If you look at animal studies, you will find that it took 271 embryos to create Dolly.

Why does the media not really deal with this profound issue in a serious manner? Why do space-cadet cultists and maverick fertility doctors the only ones covered in news stories?

There is a serious and reflective human cloning movement that has simply been ignored.

www.reproductivecloning,net

www.humancloning.org

www.clonerights.com .