US to okay cloning experiments

The 18-member National Bioethics Advisory Commission, appointed by US President Bill Clinton after the successful cloning of a sheep named Dolly in Scotland, will make final recommendations at a meeting this weekend.The commission will propose that privately funded scientists and doctors be allowed to make cloned human embryos for research but not be allowed to implant them into women8217;s wombs, the panel member said.

8220;The issues that arose in the case of Dolly stemmed largely from the prospect of creating an individual who would be genetically identical to an individual who exists or previously exists and that is what we are addressing,8221; the panel member said.

The panel8217;s recommendations on embryos were first reported by The Washington Post yesterday. The newspaper said it had obtained a copy of the panel8217;s proposals and interviewed panel members.

Clinton announced a moratorium on the use of Federal Funds for human embryo cloning in February and appointed the panel of experts in science, law and theology to make broad recommendations on the issue to congress.