Cloning Is Cloning

Cloning Is Cloning

Greg Koukl

Don’t be duped. Cloning is cloning.

Prop 71—the California initiative earmarking $6 billion in bond funds for embryonic stem cell research—succeeded principally because of a bald-faced lie cloaked in a linguistic trick. Propaganda for the initiative stated, “Prop 71 contains strict fiscal and ethical guidelines and prohibits cloning.” Do not be taken in by this kind of language. This is verbal sleight of hand characteristic of ESCR proponents.

The proposition authorized “therapeutic cloning” done for research. It forbade “reproductive cloning” done “to produce babies.” What is the difference? Not a thing. There is no difference in the cloning. The cloning is the same in each case (somatic cell nuclear transfer, described by Ron Reagan last summer at the Democratic National Convention without using the “C” word). All cloning reproduces a human being at the embryonic stage. Therefore, all cloning is reproductive cloning.

The difference is not in the cloning, but in the fate of the unfortunate human being just created. We can let the embryo survive and grow naturally (reproductive cloning). Or we kill the embryo and use it’s cells for research (therapeutic cloning). In simple terms, cloning for killing is fine; cloning for living is not.

This fact is easily disguised for a gullible public. Ron Reagan at the DNC, 2004: “Now by the way, no fetal tissue is involved in this process. No fetuses are created, none destroyed. This all happens in the laboratory at the cellular level.” This is profoundly misleading, and intentionally so. A fetus is a human embryo at eight weeks of development. Reagan merely assured us that scientists will not let the cloned human being live long enough to be called an embryo.

Once again: Don’t be duped.