The move to preserve therapeutic cloning

Karen Birmingham

J Clin Invest. 2003;112(11):1600-1601. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI20474.

News

In mid-October 2003, on the eve of the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Texas, the Cypriot-born physician Panayiotis Zavos held a press conference to announce that he had frozen a cloned human embryo at the 10-cell stage and was preparing to implant it in a woman. As with his previous claims, Zavos offered no scientific data to support his work. Nonetheless, there is fresh concern within the research community that such outlandish remarks are fueling political efforts to ban all forms of cloning, both reproductive and therapeutic Scientists are now rallying to stop mavericks like Zavos. Kellie Tamashiro, part of the University of Cincinnati team that showed adult cloned mice become obese as a side effect of the cloning procedure (1), articulates the issue: “We need to be aware that people such as Zavos may be attempting to clone humans and need to ensure that cloning done by other researchers using various animal models is not prematurely halted as a result of his claims and activities.” Lawrence Goldstein, a Howard Hughes Investigator from UCSD, agrees. “It’s not that there’s an increased activity of those trying to clone humans — or that they’re any closer — it’s just that there’s an increased number of claims. People legitimately feel this is an inappropriate activity and there […]

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NEWS

The move to preserve therapeutic cloning

In mid-October 2003, on the eve of the UN convention impasse “The UN is deadlocked,” says Gold- annual meeting of the American Soci- What worries researchers is the nature stein. “The extremists, led by the US, ety for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) of current political efforts to ban would like to ban cloning and all in Texas, the Cypriot-born physician human cloning. On November 6th, an possible precursor technologies. Why Panayiotis Zavos held a press confer- ad hoc Working Group of the United don’t they at least do what they agree ence to announce that he had frozen a Nations, convened two years earlier, on — ban human reproductive cloned human embryo at the 10-cell decided by only 80 votes to 79 to delay cloning? Those who would go fur- stage and was preparing discussion of an agree- ther than the point everybody agrees to implant it in a woman. ment on an internation- upon block the simplest objective. I As with his previous al treaty banning human think that’s inappropriate politically claims, Zavos offered no cloning for a further two and ethically. I’m ashamed of my scientific data to support years. The group has government.” his work. Nonetheless, been split because 40 there is fresh concern nations, led by Costa Mobilizing scientists within the research com- Rica, have demanded a Having been part of the debate for five munity that such out- ban on all forms of years, Goldstein is now one of several landish remarks are fuel- Larry Goldstein: time to act cloning, both reproduc- scientists who feel so strongly about ing political efforts to ban tive and therapeutic. The the issue that they have joined a new all forms of cloning, both reproductive latter technique can involve creating lobbying group, the Human Cloning and therapeutic Scientists are now ral- and then destroying human embryos. Policy Institute (HCPI). The HCPI, lying to stop mavericks like Zavos. Supporters of a total ban include which consists of 16 international sci- Kellie Tamashiro, part of the Univer- several African and South American entists, lawyers, and human rights sity of Cincinnati team that showed countries and, most notably, the Unit- activists, has petitioned UN Secretary- adult cloned mice become obese as a ed States, countries known for their General Kofi Annan to take the matter side effect of the cloning procedure (1), strong religious factions and anti- to the International Court of Justice articulates the issue: “We need to be abortion views. Robert Lanza, vice for resolution. aware that people such as Zavos may president of Medical & Scientific The HCPI was formed in the fall of be attempting to clone humans and Development at Advanced Cell Tech- 2003 by Bernie Segal, a Florida-based need to ensure that cloning done by nology, Worcester, Massachusetts, attorney who has sued the Raelian cult other researchers using various animal USA, told the JCI, “The Bush Adminis- to demand that they produce the baby models is not prematurely halted as a tration is siding more with religious that they claim to have cloned result of his claims and activities.” than scientific views. My feeling as a (through Clonaid, their subsidiary) at Lawrence Goldstein, a Howard Hugh- scientist is that the government the start of the year. “I serve as a mem- es Investigator from UCSD, agrees. should be looking out for the health ber of HCPI’s scientific advisory com- “It’s not that there’s an increased activ- and well-being of the population, not mittee,” Goldstein told the JCI. “I was ity of those trying to clone humans — taking sides in religious approached by Bernie or that they’re any closer — it’s just debates because clearly Segal, who I felt was that there’s an increased number of there is a diversity of reli- doing the right thing, claims. People legitimately feel this is gious viewpoints.” namely moving in legal an inappropriate activity and there Meanwhile, a group of and ethical ways to ought to be a ban on human cloning 14 countries that includes oppose an unethical med- that will also stop the claims.” the United Kingdom, ical practice — cloning a Joe Massey, of the Atlanta-based China, and South Africa human being, but also Southeastern Fertility Institute, insists that the interna- trying to preserve the abil- believes that a year ago, researchers tional treaty should apply ity and legitimate need of wouldn’t have bothered to enlist sup- to reproductive cloning Bob Lanza: doubts the scientific and medical port for a human cloning ban. Yet dur- only. They argue that, Zavos’ latest claim community to pursue the ing that time, embryonic stem cell given the diversity of opin- use of related technology; research and nuclear transfer in ani- ion on the morality of therapeutic that is, generating viable pluripotent mals has progressed apace. “This pos- cloning and its potential to offer med- stem cells for research and potential sible pathway of scientific inquiry is ical breakthroughs against certain dis- therapy. I felt that he’d do a better a being guarded by scientists who would eases, individual countries should be better job with sound scientific advice, like to pursue it,” he told the JCI. allowed to regulate it as they see fit. so I joined.”

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In October, Australian reproductive sentation in the media and public hys- embryos can ever undergo successful biologist Alan Trounson, another teria to get in the way of legitimate sci- nuclear transfer, since meiotic spindle member of the HCPI, publicly likened entific exchange,” Tipton told the JCI. removal from recipient oocytes, which the risk of human occurs during enucleation, appears to cloning to that of the A question of time prevent embryo reconstitution (2). misuse of nuclear arma- Tipton went on to Although others believe it’s simply a ments. Given that most explain ASRM’s policy numbers game, Mark Westhusin, a existing animal clones with regard to human member of the Texas A & M University have health defects such cloning. “We would not team that cloned the first cat, told the as obesity and respirato- let people present JCI, “The nuclear transfer procedure is ry and immune prob- something that said not the obstacle. The biggest issue is lems, he said, children ‘here are the results of logistics. It’s very inefficient in any born from the technique Human embryo at the ten- human cloning. Here’s species, so where are you going to get could face death at any cell stage. a baby.’ But Dr. Zavos’ 100 eggs on any given day that are com- point in time, and that work did not present an petent and can reprogram a nucleus, this was an unreasonable way to live. ethical obstacle. He didn’t move any- and where are you going to get enough Massey is also an HPCI member. “The thing any closer to what’s happening in surrogate mothers, let alone a research reason I joined the panel is because I human cloning. We’ve taken a clear, team willing to be a part of this?” know there are people out there who scientific stance against that because Thus, despite the UN’s wranglings, would try to clone their loved ones or the science hasn’t progressed to a point it still seems that time is on their side themselves if they thought they had a where you can make an attempt at it shot at it. They will continue to be tan- safely. We haven’t addressed the ulti- talized by the promises of the fringe ele- mate ethical question of should it ever ments who take advantage of the press happen. We’re still examining that and to promote awareness of their activities. our membership is torn on it. There are Those who are making the claims, and a lot of people who recognize that have no science, need to be discredited. much of the debate around human This is a goal of the HCPI, promote sci- cloning is very similar to that which ence, and discourage the hope for surrounded the first in vitro fertiliza- reproductive cloning.” tion. Until the scientific question is Other scientific groups are also clear, we have not felt the need to take mobilizing. In September, more than up the larger ethical question as yet.” 60 science academies from around the That point may be a long way off. world, under the auspices of the Inter- “First of all, I think it’s highly unlikely Academy Panel, petitioned the UN to that Zavos would have frozen it at the Cloned cows, sheep, and cats. Are humans adopt a ban on reproductive cloning 10-cell unless it had stopped dividing, next? while urging against making thera- and if had, it wouldn’t be viable,” says peutic cloning illegal. Lanza, whose company has cloned in their attempt to introduce an inter- However, such activity has not around 100 cows. “Also, in all probabil- national cloning law that will please silenced the claims of proponents of ity, 10 cells may not really be 10 cells but the majority. But Joe Massey’s words human cloning. Zavos is becoming a may be a fractionated embryo, i.e., cells should serve as a strong incentive to familiar figure at reproductive biology have broken into smaller units. The act sooner rather than later: “If 100 meetings around the world. At the human genome doesn’t really kick in scientists learned to clone human ASRM meeting, he presented data on until the compacting morula stage, cells, only one would be needed to nuclear transfer in cow embryos as a which is at least a 16-cell. And when it blow the lid off the science and take it model for his human work. Perhaps, starts to compact there are certain genes to reproduction.” then, it is incumbent on societies to that are turned on so that you would be take a stance and not give rogue scien- able to visibly ensure that a clone has 1. Tamashiro, K.L., et al. 2002. Cloned mice have an tists a platform. ASRM spokesperson taken over and that it’s viable.” obese phenotype not transmitted to their off- spring. Nature Med. 8:262–267. Sean Tipton disagrees. “The scientific Moreover, credible cloning researchers 2. Simerly, C., et al. 2003. Molecular correlates of community shouldn’t allow misrepre- are currently debating whether primate primate nuclear transfer failures. Science. 300:297. Karen Birmingham, London, United Kingdom

The Journal of Clinical Investigation | December 2003 | Volume 112 | Number 11 1601