Cloning worries baby expert

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 9

Cloning worries baby expert

London A British population expert has called for a Government investigation into "cloning"—the technique of creating identical human beings from one egg. in a week when millions of TV viewers saw a documentary on the work of the testtube baby doctor, .Patrick Steptoe, which showed it was now possible to split the human egg. Dr Robert Snowden has called for legislation that would prevent unscrupulous people from using the technique. “I'm not against artificial reproduction when it is used carefully to help childless couples. But it is open to abuse until there are strict regulations." he said.

NZPA

'■ Dr Snowden said: “With, new techniques a single female egg can'.be split into four separate cells. Each one can be split again and the division continued. “This means, that from one human egg it is now possible to produce a whole regiment of genetically, identical people. “It would be like producing an army of ants.” Dr Snowden director of Exeter University’s Institute of Population Studies, lectures all over the world on artifical reproduction. He draws a chilling parallel between modern techiques and Kilter’s master-race plan. “With this he would have been able to create his Aryan master race in just half an hour.”