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CNN Live At Daybreak

Cloning Controversy

Aired August 07, 2001 - 08:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's begin with a topic that is either your worst fear or your greatest hope -- human cloning. Some researchers say they plan to clone humans as early as this November. The news has sparked controversy and confusion over what cloning is and isn't.

Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is in Washington, where scientists are meeting today on this controversial subject -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Colleen.

As we speak, there is a debate has begun at the National Academy of Sciences. And it's sure to be heated, because the topic, as we know, is human cloning.

Let's talk a little bit about the specifics of this meeting. At the meeting, two groups will testify that they have begun -- already begun the steps to start cloning a human being. These two groups are competitors, as it were, in the race to clone a human being.

And then on the other side, will be scientists criticizing their efforts. They say that animal studies have shown that most of these pregnancies that would produce a clone end up in miscarriage. And then the ones that do go to term usually end up having babies that have terrible deformities. And so they say this is terrible. One even used the term barbaric to try cloning a human being.

Now we spoke yesterday with Dr. Panos Zavos, who is one of the two -- the head of one of the two groups that is trying to clone a human being. And he says that he is going to be doing it in two countries -- he wouldn't say what they were -- where cloning is still legal.

Now, the United States would fit the bill just by that definition. It is not illegal to clone in the United States. But he says that he is not going to try to do it in this country.

We'll take a look again. Two groups will announce their progress in human cloning efforts. And scientists will criticize them, not just for ethical reasons, but saying in animals, most of the animals turn out to be deformed. And so they say this is a terrible thing to try to do with human beings.

And let's hear from Dr. Panos Zavos, who explains why he is not going to try to do this in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. PANOS ZAVOS, FERTILITY RESEARCHER: We are a world nation. We are made out of so many cultures. But that it's very difficult to convince all cultures that this is a beneficial effort. It's better that we go into a country, where all people are manufactured by the same company, so to speak.

COHEN: I got you.

ZAVOS: And therefore, the U.S. is a great country, but this is not the place to be at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: Now, Dr. Zavos, he says he simply doesn't trust the results of the animal studies. He thinks that they are not true. And he says that it is safe. And he says that he will screen the embryos before implanting them into a woman's uterus to start a pregnancy. And he says they will only use the good ones.

He has also said before that if anything goes wrong, if they can tell via ultrasound or other tests, if anything goes wrong he simply would have the woman have an abortion -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Elizabeth, how much credibility do these doctors have among their fellow scientists, fellow doctors?

COHEN: You know, Dr. Zavos is a former professor at the University of Kentucky. And he has a long, long list of publications to his name. I mean, he is definitely a specialist in infertility issues. However, once he starts saying that human cloning is safe, and that what happened in animals isn't really true, and even if it were true, it's not going to happen in human beings, and he thinks he's going to have only healthy babies born, then they start saying he has definitely lost it. And he has lost his credibility at this point.

MCEDWARDS: CNN's Elizabeth Cohen, thanks -- Vince.

VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: This adds to the medical ethics issues that President Bush is debating.

White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us from Crawford, Texas this morning, where the president has a little more work to add to his working vacation -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Vince, that's right. And the White House using news of this latest proposal to reiterate its very strong opposition to human cloning. You will recall that the House of Representatives voted last week to ban human cloning, and President Bush very much backed that vote. The White House saying that the moral and ethical implications of human cloning are profound and cannot be ignored. This White House saying it is unequivocally opposed to human cloning either for reproductive or research purposes. And so it's clear this White House is against cloning of human embryos for research purposes. But what is not clear is whether President Bush will decide to allow federal funding of stem cells obtained from human embryos that either already exist or are created. And Mr. Bush has told reporters that he will make a decision on this very controversial subject before lawmakers return in September.

And so that means the president is grappling with this issue when he is spending time on his ranch here in Crawford. Aides say the president knows any decision he makes could have implications for the next 20 to 30 years. And that is why he is taking him time trying to balance the hope and promise of science with the questions of ethics and morality.

Now, when it comes to the American people, according to the latest CNN-USA Today Gallup Poll, a majority support federal funding of stem cell research. You will see that 55 percent favor such research, while 29 percent oppose it.

What is interesting, though, is the numbers change. While two- thirds of American say they support federal funding of research on adult stem cells -- stem cells taken from adult tissue. The number drops a little bit -- 55 percent support stem cell research on embryos from fertility clinics, 46 percent on embryos created just for research, and only 28 percent support research on embryos created through cloning. So again, the numbers there.

The president expected to make a decision at any time, Vince. We are told as soon as he has an announcement, we will get it -- Vince.

CELLINI: Kelly, before we let you go, what is the president doing to make his agenda -- his view happen?

WALLACE: Well, White House aides say he is talking to a variety of people. Just last week, he met with scientists from the National Institute of Health. He has met with medical ethicists. He has heard from lawmakers on both sides of the issue. He has even received letters from people, like Nancy Reagan, who is pushing the president to back this research. Supporters say it could lead to revolutionary new treatments in the fight against diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

So the president, aides say, is listening to a variety of people, going through a variety of briefing books and documents. And again, they say that he knows this is a very big decision. And he is going to take his time -- Vince.

CELLINI: All right. Kelly Wallace, thank you very much from Crawford, Texas.

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