Cloning: Now You See You, Now You See Two?

President Bush is pressing Congress to ban human cloning. Last year, the House voted to ban such cloning. The Senate is expected to consider the issue this spring, with the possibility of a compromise whereby cloning for disease research would be allowed. The best compromise, however, would be to ban reproductive cloning and put a moratorium on research cloning.

The much-respected National Academies support a ban on reproductive cloning given its dangers, but argue for allowing research cloning. The academies reflect the current scientific questions, but not necessarily society's full underlying ethical debate. The President's Council on Bioethics is addressing those, and if you want to see some lively, thought-provoking debates, read the transcripts of the council's meetings (www.bioethics.gov/transcripts.html). The views on the council are varied, and a final report – expected this summer – should reflect those varied views.

The discussions have nuance. The most basic question, of course, is when does life begin. And the next is, what respect should be afforded that life. This is the area of most profound and legitimate disagreement among people...