This paper explains that
reproductive and
therapeutic cloning involve essentially the same initial technology to produce
early human embryos; only the aims would be different. The author points out that, in
reproductive cloning, the embryo would be implanted into the womb to bring about the birth of a child; whereas, in
therapeutic cloning, the early embryo would never develop beyond a microscopic ball of cells and would be used to explore stem cell treatments for diseases, such as diabetes and Parkinson's. The paper relates that an overwhelming international consensus exists in the scientific and medical communities that any attempt at human reproductive cloning would be scientifically unsound and medically unsafe; therefore, the wisest path seems to be to curb reproductive cloning, while encouraging responsible and ethical therapeutic cloning.