Human Cloning (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Dec. 19, 2001 |
| Report Number |
RS21096 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Judith A. Johnson, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
On November 25, 2001, a Massachusetts company, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT), announced that they had created the worldâs first cloned human embryos. The cloned embryos survived only for a few hours. ACT has indicated that it intends to use such embryos to derive stem cells in producing new therapies for diseases like diabetes and Parkinsonâs disease. The ACT announcement has highlighted the ethical and social concerns associated with cloning human embryos. On July 31, 2001, the House passed H.R. 2505, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001, by a vote of 265-162. The bill would ban the process of human cloning as well as the importation of any product derived from an embryo created via cloning. The provisions mean that cloning could not be used for reproductive purposes or for research on therapeutic purposes, which has implications for stem cell research. This report will be updated as needed.
