A bitter rift has emerged among scientists over plans to clone a human being before the end of this year. An intense debate on the ethics and practicalities of human cloning continued at an international scientific conference in Washington. Professor Severino Antinori defended his controversial plans.
The Italian fertility expert aims to begin impregnating up to 200 women with cloned embryos later this year. Other scientists at the American National Academy of Sciences conference said that it was impossible to detect the types of problems seen in animal clones by examining embryos.
A biochemist member of Professor Antinori's team said that they were determined to produce the first human clone. However, Brigitte Boisselier declined to say when she thought it could happen.
The conference is gathering information on cloning for the United States Congress, which is on the verge of outlawing the practice. The House of Representatives has already voted against the allowing human cloning and a Bill is due before the Senate next month.
