Reproductive cloning, on the other hand, implants a cloned embryo into a woman’s uterus, bringing the embryo to pregnancy. This practice is opposed by the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, patient advocacy groups, leading scientists, the National Academy of Sciences and an overwhelming majority of Americans. Scientists understand that reproductive cloning is unsafe for the mother as well as the fetus. It also would almost certainly produce such a backlash that all their hard work to cure diseases using SCNT would be tarnished and potentially outlawed.

Some argue that new technologies such as SCNT start us down a “slippery slope” that will lead to reproductive cloning – or that rogue scientists could begin cloning in underground labs. This is currently illegal and virtually impossible scientifically. We know of no scientist attempting reproductive cloning.

In fact, federal law is very clear that all clinical research must be reviewed by an independent board to ensure that it meets the highest ethical standards. The US Food and Drug Administration reviews all clinical experiments involving humans. In other words, there is strong oversight to make sure reproductive cloning does not happen.

Implanting a cloned embryo into a womb to create a human being is a clear, undisputed illegal act. It is where we as scientists and the rest of society draw the line.

For more information please visit:

BIO’s fact sheets on animal cloning

“What 40 Nobel Laureates Say About Cloning“

The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research

The National Institute of Health’s Stem Cell Information Page

Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Stem Cells at the National Academies of Science

Information on Livestock Cloning