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Rolling Cyber Debate Question for John Hagelin from October 16, 2000
From Web White & Blue (http://www.webwhiteblue.org)

Question:
What is your position on medical research on human fetal tissue for diabetes and other diseases? What about human cloning for production of healthy organs for transplant?
Submitted from Ellis from Dallas, Texas, via washingtonpost.com

Answer:
I have taken a strong, precautionary stance on the genetic engineering of humans. Genetic engineering of humans, and its related applications, is a radical technology that brings genetic characteristics of viruses and other organisms into the human genome. Human DNA becomes infected with foreign genetic material with potentially severe long-term consequences, including the potential for dangerous genetic diseases that may afflict future generations.

As a nuclear physicist, I am not technology shy. But unlike nuclear pollution, which "only" lasts 10,000 years, gene pollution is forever: self-perpetuating and irreversible. The perversion of the human genome--with its potential for severe, unforeseeable side effects on the present and future generations--must not be hastily promoted for corporate profits, even under alleged humanitarian justification. I am against such hasty commercialization of untested technologies that are being rushed to market by a Congress awash in biotech money.

Cloning is potentially different from genetic engineering, since it may not necessarily involve the corruption of the human genome. However, cloning raises disturbing moral and ethical issues. Such experimentation should only proceed under close public, and government, supervision and oversight. It should not be left in the hands of for-profit biotech corporations.

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