"We realize that this issue generates intense debate. We have long opposed human cloning to produce babies as dangerous and irresponsible. But we believe that nuclear cell transplantation research - what is called research or therapeutic cloning - holds the potential to ease tremendous suffering and prolong life for countless millions of people. For that reason, this window of scientific and eventual clinical opportunity should not be shut prematurely.
"These positions are reflected in the measure sponsored by Belgium-a measure that clearly represents the mainstream of scientific and medical thinking in the United States and worldwide."
To see the official statement on human cloning by the AAAS Board of Directors, please go to http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2002/Cloning.shtml
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science (www.sciencemag.org). AAAS was founded in 1848, and serves some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of one million. The non-profit AAAS (www.aaas.org) is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy; international programs; science education; and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS.
AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society, dedicated to "Advancing science - Serving society."