Therapeutic Cloning: What Medical Scientists Support and Why

The majority of medical scientists support somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), also known as therapeutic cloning, in which the nucleus of a body cell is transferred into an egg that has had its nucleus removed. The resulting embryo is then grown in a laboratory dish, and the stem cells that are derived from it can be used to treat a variety of diseases.

Medical scientists generally do not support reproductive cloning, in which a cloned embryo is implanted into a woman's uterus and allowed to develop into a fetus. The main ethical concern with reproductive cloning is that it creates a human being who is genetically identical to another person, which raises issues of identity and autonomy. Additionally, there is a high risk of birth defects and other health problems associated with reproductive cloning.