Research using cloned human embryos should be allowed for the development of tissue and cell therapies, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) declared in a statement released last week. The AAS statement says that because of recent breakthroughs in the isolation of embryonic stem cell and the development of cloning techniques, licensed research that could lead to the self compatible treatment of damaged tissues and organs should be allowed. Like other equivalent organisations around the world, the AAS declared itself to be firmly opposed to the use of cloning for reproductive purposes.
The Australian Government, in line with the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council, has adopted a more cautious approach. It is in favour of regulation which would allow the use of cloned human embryos in research in 'exceptional circumstances'. Predictably, the Catholic church has condemned the AAS position.
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