Harvard Scientists to Clone Human Embryos

An anonymous reader writes "Harvard University scientists claim they will soon start trying to clone human embryos to create stem cells. Even with the history of controversy and fraud researchers hope they can one day use the newly created stem cells to aid in battle against many diseases. From the article: 'The privately funded work is aimed at devising treatments for such ailments as diabetes, Lou Gehrig's disease, sickle-cell anemia and leukemia. Harvard is only the second American university to announce its venture into the challenging, politically charged research field.'"

Re:Is it worth it?

[Surt]

Sure, we shouldn't get involved in a land war in asia, even to cure a disease, but why would cloning fall into that category?

Evoloution has no morals

[itsthebin]

why can't the people who object to this just put themselves on a 'do not clone register'.

Full support!

[Jugalator]

I support cloning, because that's the only way I assume I'll reproduce. :-/

Nice timing, Harvard.

[CosmeticLobotamy]

Harvard, doing its very best to ensure the guys running the Republicans have enough nonsense issues to keep control indefinitely.

Re:Is it worth it?

[Jugalator]

Aren't there any areas we should stay away from _even_ if they would help us cure diseases?

Well, I for one am not putting my hand in your ass to diagnose if you have prostate cancer!

So that's one area.

Any more?

Re:Morality?

[JonathanR]

But then how does she cash in his life insurance? This is a pretty clear-cut moral decision.

Re:Survival of the Fittest

[RobertKozak]

Whatever happened to survival of the fittest? Is all this technology assisting with breeding a race of second rate homo sapiens?

As a group were are not first rate homo sapiens.

There is natural selection and sexual selection. As long as ugly people, stupid people and politians* keep getting laid we will always be a race of second rate homo sapiens.

* (also people who drive slow in the fast lane, people that try to take out a second mortgage through the ATM machine, RIAA lawyers, people that answer cell phones in the theatre, most of my ex girlfriends (but not their hot girlfriends), terrorists, people involved in the Garfield movie, the religious right, all those bullies from gym class, fanatics of any kind, people who like onions, dog owners that dont scoop, the people who invented rebate pricing, people who fart in the elevator just as the doors close and telemarketers. )

** NOTE TO MODERATORS: I would really prefer a +1 interesting over a +1 Funny.

is this new?

[frietbsd]

identical twins been doing this for years.

obligatory

[owlnation]

Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!! !!

sorry!

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Of course not...

[Anonymous Coward]

Then identical twins only have half a soul each.

No. Only one of them has one... the other is the evil twin.

Re:Never, never, and never

[Anne_Nonymous]

>> the day pigs fly

The molecular genetics group at Harvard is working on this too.

In related news

[Anonymous Coward]

Princeton scientists have decided to clone the clones of human embryos.

When asked about the decision, a representative said: 'One upmanship? Competitiveness? Don't be ridiculous. A scientist knows not of these things.'

Re:Survival of the Fittest

[Enigma2175]

...There is natural selection and sexual selection. As long as ugly people, stupid people and politians* keep getting laid we will always be a race of second rate homo sapiens.

* (also people who drive slow in the fast lane, people that try to take out a second mortgage through the ATM machine...

Also people who say "ATM machine" and "PIN number".

Re:but when

[ElleyKitten]

yeah thats nice and all, but, when will researchers do something usefull... like clone lindsay lohan for me a couple times :P

Unfortunately, cloning Lindsay Lohan for you a couple of times would just leave you with a couple of babies named Lindsay.

Unless science found a way to rapidly age them, but then you'd have a couple of adult women who aren't toilet trained and cry all the time. Now there's a fantasy!

Re:Baby killers [Re: br. morality in...]

[zsau]

Do *you* have free will? Or is your free will an illusion, and the path you would take known to someone who knows everything that is and was, and cared to take the time to work it out?

I'll grant that your consciousness might be the issue, till you fall asleep. People in comas might object too, if they were conscious.

Re:Have geeks even considered...

[Quiet_Desperation]

just as I've never considered following other Bible verses that suggest I keep slaves, sleep with my daughters, marry multiple wives, or stone people who lie.

Actually, the slaves, wives and stoning things do have a certain attraction. :)