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By Kathleen Carmody
Scientists and religious worldwide have condemned plans by an Italian professor to clone human beings.
Italian scientist
Professor Severino Antinori and Professor Panayiotis Zavos from the United States announced their plans at a conference of the Italian Society of Reproductive Medicine last week, saying cloning could be considered
the last frontier to overcome male sterility.
“We do intend to clone the first human,” Professor Antinori said. “This is a solution to a human problem.”
However, scientists have warned of the
likelihood of birth defects in cloned babies, such as Down’s Syndrome, as well as heart, lung and blood vessel problems.
Church groups in Australia have been angered by the news of the human cloning
experiments and have condemned the research outright, saying cloning is an affront to God and to human dignity.
“It is irresponsible and immoral for Professor Severino Antinori and Professor Panayiotis Zavos
to announce their expectation of success in human cloning,” said Mr Ray Hoekzema, President of the NSW Council of Churches. “The arrogance of their claims is unbelievable … What they are seeking to do is an affront
to God.”
Cloning in Australia is illegal and while it has been reported that some Australian research teams have the technology to undertake human cloning, they have held off because of ethical and legal
questions.
The treatment Professor Antinori plans to carry out is banned in the US and most European countries, but the professor said an unnamed Mediterranean country had granted his team permission to set
up a clinic there.
“A team of experts is ready, we have the financial backing and we will succeed in creating the world’s first (cloned) baby,” said Professor Antinori.
The Vatican described the plan as immoral.
“Every child must be born with his or her genetic individuality – they should not be simply a photocopy,” said Monsignor Mauro Cozzoli of the Vatican’s Bioethics
Commission.
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