The journalist charged with verifying the human cloning claims of the cult-linked company Clonaid has now reached the same conclusion as many observers 鈥� the claims could well be 鈥渁n elaborate hoax鈥�. Michael Guillen, former science editor of ABC News, said he has suspended the independent review process that would have genetically tested the first-born baby to prove that its DNA was indeed identical to that of another person.
鈥淭he team of scientists has had no access to the alleged family and, therefore, cannot verify firsthand the claim that a human baby has been cloned,鈥� Guillen said in a statement on Monday. 鈥淚n other words, it鈥檚 still entirely possible that Clonaid鈥檚 announcement is part of an elaborate hoax intended to bring publicity to the Raelian movement.鈥�
Clonaid says the first cloned baby was born on 26 December. The company claims a second was born in the Netherlands on Saturday, and that three more are due by the end of January. The company was set up by the Raelian religious cult, which believes that humans were cloned from aliens who landed on the earth 25,000 years ago.
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Avoiding bias
Revelations on Sunday that Guillen had tried to sell exclusive coverage of the first child鈥檚 birth several months ago had increased scepticism about his independence from the Raelians. However, in the statement he added that he wanted to remove himself from the testing procedure in order to avoid possibility of bias.
Clonaid鈥檚 spokesperson Nadine Gary said she was surprised by Guillen鈥檚 announcement and was 鈥渘ot aware鈥� of any suspension.
According to Guillen, the scientists he had assembled to perform the tests came from two highly-respected DNA testing facilities and were still ready to perform the tests if they were allowed access to the baby.
Clonaid says the planned DNA tests have been delayed in order to protect the parents鈥� identities. This follows a Florida lawyer asking a state court to appoint a legal guardian for the baby girl, a process that could force the identification of those involved in the cloning.