MPs call for human cloning debate

Recent advances have reopened the debate

MPs are calling for a public debate on human cloning in the light of recent advances in cloning technology.

The House of Commons' science and technology committee is questioning whether existing laws should change.

Among the ideas they want to debate is whether cloning a child should ever be an option for infertile couples.

Some feel it is only a matter of time before someone tries to apply current techniques in therapeutic cloning to reproductive cloning.

Moral issues

South Korean scientists recently announced they had cloned 30 human embryos to obtain stem cells they hope could one day be used to treat disease.

The aim is to use the cells to replace ones that have failed in patients with problems such as Alzheimer's disease.

But the Koreans' success in producing a large number of advanced clones immediately reopened the debate on cloning.

While accepting that the first cloned baby is probably a long way off, MPs now want to debate the technical and moral issues in advance of any future attempts at reproductive cloning.

Cloning babies is banned under the Human Reproductive Cloning Act with a 10-year prison sentence and unlimited fine among the penalties.

And Health Secretary Dr John Reid said earlier this year there would be no cloned babies in the UK while he remained in post.