A US presidential commission is likely to recommend that the cloning of human embryos for research should be legalised - but that there should be a ban on implanting such embryos to produce babies.
The National Bioethics Advisory Commission was appointed by President Clinton last February following the cloning of a sheep, Dolly, by a Scottish scientist. It was charged with providing recommendations on the correct course to follow in using such techniques for human cloning.
The commission's report is due to be given to President Clinton next weekend, but a copy of its draft recommendations has been seen by the Washington Post, which yesterday published details.
The main recommendation, according to some commission members, is that legislation should be enacted to allow privately funded research into the cloning of human embryos.
At the same time, there should be a ban on implanting embryos into wombs to allow cloned babies to be born.
The legislation would affect the private medical research sector. This is virtually unregulated at present in the embryo research area. While President Clinton might accept the recommendations of the 18 member commission, that does not mean that the Republican controlled Congress would enact legislation to permit research on cloned embryos, even if accompanied by a ban on implantation. This Congress is strongly antiabortion, and activists in this area are already pointing out that allowing embryo research also involves destruction of embryos.
The commission of experts in science, law and theology has been trying, according to some of its members, to find a compromise between opponents of human cloning and those who see it as a promising option for infertile couples, as well as a possible source of medical advances.
According to the newspaper report, the commission has not had time to deal with all the ethical issues raised by cloning but recognises the need for a ban on using it for human reproduction.
"Testimony from scientists had convinced the group that cloning poses serious health risks for both the clone and the woman who would carry the cloned foetus to term," the Post says.
Mr Thomas Murray, a member of the commission, said there were moral concerns which "really go to the heart of what's significant about having children" and questions about whether cloning was "elevating narcissism to new heights".
PA adds: Scientists have crossed a new milestone in genetics by transferring whole human chromosomes into mice. The achievement has been hailed as a landmark in genetic research.
Chromosomes are long, protein coated strands of DNA along which are arranged chains of genes. For years it has been possible to insert isolated human genes into mice and other animals.
But geneticist, Dr Isao Ishida, from the Kirin brewery company in Yokohama, and colleagues from two Japanese universities have produced mice with whole human chromosomes and chromosomal fragments.
The chromosomes were inserted into embryonic stem cells, then mixed to form a conglomerate, or chimera, with multi celled mouse embryos which were then implanted into a mouse uterus. Mice containing a human chromosome were born 21 days later.
The animals were found to have human immune genes in their thyroid glands, human heart muscle genes in their hearts, and human liver genes in their livers.