Sunday, June 27, 2004

Cloned babies by next year

TWO Chinese Singaporean couples are trying for cloned babies to be born late next year, a newspaper reported today. Thomas Kaenzig, the Swiss-born Vice-President of the controversial company clonaid, told the daily tabloid streats the agreements have been signed with both couples.'' We have scheduled the process to begin in early 2005,'' Kaenzig was quoted as saying. ''The first cloned singaporean baby will be born'' by Autumn 2005, he added. Cloning of human embryos for stem-cell research and human-tissue research is allowed in singapore, but not to create human beings. The las vegas-based Kaenzig, 31, declined to reveal the identities of the couples. ''human cloning is so much misunderstood and is considered unethical,'' he noted. He told the newspaper one couple is in their early 40s, while the other is in their mid-30s.

"Both couples who are infertile cases have tried in-vitro fertilization for several years without success,'' Kaenzig said. ''For them, cloning is the only option to have their own children.'' Clonaid was formed in 1997 by the raelian sect leader Claude Rael, who believes people are clones of aliens. The company, which is secretive about its locations and staff strength, claims to have cloned 13 babies so far after it announced in December, 2002 that it helped create the first human clone in Israel. Scientists dismissed the claims as no proof was shown.

During the cloning process, DNA from the nucleus of an egg cell is taken from the mother, the newspaper account said. Genetic material from the father's cells is inserted into the egg cells. A trigger is applied to the egg cell, causing it to divide, and this is this then implanted in the mother's womb. The procedure will be carried out abroad, said Kaenzig. The Singaporean couples were said to be charged $200,000 each for their babies. Kaenzig said since the success rate of cloning is only 30 to 40 per cent, the company collects its fees only in increments at different stages. — DPA

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