These fundamental questions and many others must be resolved before we can distinguish fact from speculation. Notwithstanding enormous hurdles, future clinical applications of research into human-cell cloning should not be dismissed as science fiction. Because this new direction of investigation is in its infancy, it is impossible to predict where it will lead. Research on somatic-cell nuclear transfer needs nurturing before it can be branded a success or failure. How the public reacts to this line of research will be critically important.
Some opponents argue that it is immoral to carry out experiments on human embryonic cells.
The arguments against this technology are analogous in many respects to those against abortion. People of good will line up on both sides of the issue. Discussions about restricting research were held in the 1970s, when recombinant DNA technology was introduced. Rather than legislate against such work, coalitions of scientists in conjunction with representatives of the government and the public drew up stringent self-imposed guidelines and standards to regulate it. Needless to say, this technology has yielded enormous benefits in medicine.