The public was skeptical and worried. As scientists now clone sheep and mice, the public's fear persists. Government leaders around the globe are uncertain how best to regulate the ever-advancing technology. From some scientists' point of view, such fears hamper technology that could further help infertile couples. For example, an embryo could be split in the laboratory to create an identical twin.
Twins develop the same way, though unaided, in nature.
The way scientists see it, splitting embryos in the lab is a way to increase the chances of achieving a pregnancy. But though it probably could be done, fertility centers avoid it because of possible negative perceptions. The emotional conflicts that surround cloning reflect the broader public uncertainty about how to address the personal questions raised by technological advances. For example, the use of donor sperm, eggs and embryos has helped thousands of infertile couples achieve pregnancy, even with women in menopause. But with the news of women in their 50s and even 60s becoming mothers, we are faced with the question of how old is too old for a new mother to be.