杏吧原创

SAY what you like about George Bush, at least he鈥檚 predictable. His followers
promised he鈥檇 push for a no-holds-barred clampdown on human cloning, and that鈥檚
exactly what he is doing
(see 鈥淏rain gain鈥�).

The idea of making it a crime to create cloned babies isn鈥檛 controversial.
But if he wants to outlaw all research into human cloning, Bush will have to
face down the scientists and leaders of patient groups who believe cloned human
tissues could one day treat diseases and save lives. Maybe Bush does have deep
moral objections to human embryo research. Maybe he is trying to keep the
鈥減ro-lifers鈥� sweet. Either way, the proposed legislation threatens to make the
American approach to embryo research and IVF treatment even more contradictory
than it already is.

In the land of the free it seems anything goes if you want to use human
embryos to make babies. A 62-year-old woman can turn up at a private IVF clinic
in Los Angeles and be implanted with a donor egg fertilised by her 52-year-old
brother. No questions asked. In New Jersey you can be implanted with embryos
that carry the genetic material of three parents
(see 鈥淪top the clock: A bun in the husband鈥�).
The technique鈥檚 not even been tested on animals, but no matter鈥攊f
patients pay, doctors will oblige.

The rule emerging from this mess seems to be that it is morally acceptable
and safe to create whatever embryos you like for whoever you like, just as long
as the resulting baby isn鈥檛 cloned. But woe betide anyone who attempts to use
cells from human embryos, cloned or otherwise, to try to save an existing human
life. Go figure.