FDA Regulation: An Answer to the Questions of Human Cloning and Germline Gene Therapy

The possibility of cloning human beings, although widely contemplated for several decades, became scientifically feasible in 1997 when the first mammal created through cloning procedures was born. Although the scientists who created the sheep named Dolly did not intend to apply cloning techniques to human beings, news media worldwide began predicting such an application. In the United States, public and political outcry against the possibility of cloning human beings was loud and swift. Almost immediately, President Clinton announced a ban on federal funding of cloning research and requested the National Bioethics Advisory Commission to prepare a report evaluating the technology and making recommendations concerning its use. Several bills were introduced in Congress which prohibited federal funding and/or banned cloning in both the public and private sectors. As of yet, none of these bills have been passed.