Russian scientist warns against cloning lenin

MOSCOW, DEC 29: The scientist son of one of the team which embalmed the body of Vladimir Lenin in 1924 today warned against any attempt to use DNA samples to clone the Bolshevik leader. Such an operation would theoretically be possible in view of the amount of tissue that was preserved, Russian biologist Ilya Zbarsky told the Interfax News Agency. But he stressed that it “hardly makes sense to clone such a cruel person so intent on the destruction of man as Lenin”. Zbarsky has helped preserve the body which his father embalmed immediately after Lenin’s death 76 years ago. He now believes it is “a symbol of tyranny” and should be removed from the mausoleum on Moscow’s Red Square for burial.