Q. What is the difference between a total human cloning ban and a "partial" cloning ban?
A. A total cloning ban would prohibit all forms and uses of human somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). SCNT is the most common technique used to clone a new human life and is often referred to as "cloning." The process of SCNT always involves the creation of a new human life (a zygote).
A partial cloning ban would permit SCNT as long as the newly created human being is not implanted in a uterus. The purpose of a partial cloning ban is to allow human cloning for biomedical research.
Q. Why should I support a total cloning ban – isn’t a partial ban on "reproductive" cloning enough?
A. A partial cloning ban is really no ban at all because it still permits the creation of a new human life through SCNT. Only a total cloning ban will stop scientists from creating cloned human beings.
Here are several crucial points to consider:
- The process of SCNT begins with an unfertilized egg; its nucleus (containing 23 chromosomes) is removed and is replaced with the full set of genetic material from an individual’s somatic cell (containing 46 chromosomes).
- When the unfertilized egg is infused with new genetic material and begins to divide it marks the formation of a new, genetically complete organism called a zygote.
- As the zygote develops into a blastocyst, it can be destroyed for research (often to obtain embryonic stem cells) or it can be implanted in a uterus for a live birth.
- Either way, SCNT always involves the creation of a new life (a zygote).
Q. But I thought there was a difference between "therapeutic" cloning and "reproductive" cloning?
A. Therapeutic and reproductive cloning use the same technique: SCNT.
SCNT clones a human being. The only difference between therapeutic and reproductive cloning is what you intend to do with the cloned human being: destroy it for research (therapeutic) or implant it for a live birth (reproductive).
All human cloning is reproductive in nature because it duplicates the genetic material of the donor and creates a new human life. Cloning is a method used to create new life, regardless of why it is created.
Q. Why do some people say that "therapeutic" cloning only creates a blastocyst – often referred to as a "ball of cells" – and not a human being?
A. SCNT creates a genetically complete human being that can undergo all the normal stages of early human development: zygote, blastocyst, embryo, fetus, and newborn baby.
To say that "therapeutic" cloning only creates a blastocyst and not a human being is simply a smoke screen used to distract from the main point: all SCNT creates a new human life regardless of what you call it – a zygote, blastocyst, a "ball of cells," or an embryo.
For a more in-depth look at cloning and the link between cloning and stem cell research, see
Frequently Asked Questions: Human Cloning
Connecting the Dots: Stem Cells and Cloning
Dawn Vargo is an associate analyst for bioethics in the Public Policy Division of Focus on the Family.
