Date:06/03/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/06/stories/2003030602511300.htm

National

Decision on human cloning soon

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI MARCH 5. The Central Government will soon take a decision on allowing human cloning. The Indian Council for Medical Research has already submitted a draft legislation on ethical guidelines for biomedical research which will be placed in Parliament, according to Vasantha Muthuswamy, Senior Deputy Director-General, ICMR.

Talking to The Hindu here today, Dr. Muthuswamy said the general opinion was in favour of allowing "therapeutic cloning" which enabled the cloning of human organs. However, the cloning of human beings as a whole would not be allowed as it would mean "playing against nature". The draft legislation was comprehensive and addressed issues, including clinical studies and transplantation.

The ICMR, she said, had formulated guidelines for research in stem cells. The Government favoured stem cell research in a big way as the country had immense potential in the field. Unethical application of cloning would be prevented but the Government was keen on the benefits of technology reaching the masses.

Institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Science and the Cancer Research Institute had the capability to undertake research in "therapeutic cloning".