Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Bioethics & Science
U.S. Scientist Claims To Have Implanted Cloned Human Embryo in Woman's Uterus
Dr. Panos Zavos, a reproductive scientist based in Lexington, Ky., announced on Saturday at a news conference at a hotel in England that he has implanted a cloned embryo into the uterus of a 35-year-old woman, the Washington Post reports (Weiss, Washington Post, 1/18). Zavos, a former University of Kentucky professor who runs a company that supplies sperm-testing equipment, would not identify the woman or where the procedure took place -- although he said that it did not occur in Europe or the United States. He also did not give any proof to back up his claim. In an essay published in the June issue of Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Zavos explained the process that he used to clone a human embryo and said that he planned to implant the cloned embryo within one month (AP/Lexington Herald-Leader, 1/18). Zavos said that he fertilized the embryo from the body of the unidentified woman who had undergone premature menopause with DNA taken from her infertile husband's skin cells (Lovell, Reuters/Washington Times, 1/18). Zavos noted that there was only a 30% chance that the woman would actually become pregnant (Gully, Agence France Presse, 1/17). Zavos said, "When we confirm this with a pregnancy test, we'll bring you up to date. But the embryo was developing very well. It's remarkable" (Washington Post, 1/18). Zavos added that he had filmed the procedure and would permit DNA testing to confirm his claims at a later time (BBC News, 1/17). Although a few other scientists have reported successfully producing cloned human embryos, none have coaxed the embryos beyond an early stage of growth before they lose viability, according to the Post (Washington Post, 1/18).
Reaction
Some observers have said that Zavos' scientific credentials are reputable compared to Clonaid, the French firm with ties to the Raelians -- a group that believes that human cloning will lead to eternal life for humanity. Clonaid in December 2002 claimed that it had produced the first cloned human infant, although the group never offered proof that it had done so (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/9/03). Marian Damewood, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which represents fertility specialists, said that the organization would "deem any attempt to transfer a cloned human embryo into a woman for gestation and birth unethical" (Washington Post, 1/18). A spokesperson for the Royal Society, the independent scientific academy of the United Kingdom, said, "We remain extremely skeptical of the claims made" by Zavos, adding, "If and when he provides the evidence, I am sure scientists and doctors will look with interest" (Gully, Agence France-Presse, 1/17). Professor Richard Gardner, the chair of the society's working group on cloning, said, "To embark on human cloning at this stage with our current knowledge of what happens in animals, just seems to me quite astoundingly irresponsible" (BBC News, 1/17). Research on animals has shown that cloned embryos usually do not produce a live birth, die shortly after birth or develop serious health problems later in life (Reuters/Washington Times, 1/18). Peter Braude, a King's College London fertility expert, said, "Zavos does not represent mainstream science and what [he] and his colleagues are doing is seeking publicity rather than advancing science" (Peacock, Reuters, 1/18). The United Nations General Assembly in December 2003 without a vote agreed to delay for one year discussion about a treaty that would recommend banning human cloning (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 12/10/03).
CBS' "Evening News" on Saturday reported on Zavos' claim. The segment includes comments from Zavos and Bob Ward, a spokesperson for the Royal Society (Roth, "Evening News," CBS, 1/17). The complete transcript is available online. The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.
