Biotech Century

Anti-Cloning Initiative

In 2001, FET assembled a coalition of 64 of the nation's leading progressive policy leaders, academics and activists in a statement of support of congressional legislation to prohibit both therapeutic and reproductive human cloning.

Statement in Support of Legislation to Prohibit Cloning

We, the undersigned, support legislation to prohibit the cloning of human embryos for either medical experimentation or for giving birth to a human being. Although we may differ in our views regarding reproductive issues, we agree that a human embryo should not be cloned for the specific intention of using it as a "resource" for medical experimentation or for producing a baby. Moreover, we believe that the market for women's eggs that would be created by this research will provide unethical incentives for women to undergo health-threatening hormone treatment and surgery.

We are also concerned about the increasing bio-industrialization of life by the scientific community and life science companies and shocked and dismayed that clonal human embryos have been patented and declared to be human "inventions". We oppose efforts to reduce human life and its various parts and processes to the status of mere research tools, manufactured products, commodities and utilities. We are also deeply troubled that at present there is no legal or ethical framework in place to regulate the accelerated commercial exploitation of this research.

We are mindful of the tragic history of social eugenics movements in the first half of the 20th century, and are united in our opposition to any use of biotechnology for a commercial eugenics movement in the 21st century.