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Second 'cloned baby' born
BBC News ^ | 01/04/03

Posted on 01/04/2003 10:31:01 AM PST by Andy from Beaverton

Saturday, 4 January, 2003, 17:07 GMT
Second 'cloned baby' born
Dr Brigitte Boisselier of Clonaid
Clonaid is linked to the Raelian sect
The group which claimed the first birth of a cloned human last week says a second such baby has now been born to a Dutch lesbian couple.

The baby girl and the mother are said to be well after the birth on Friday night.

Chief executive of the US-based Clonaid organisation Brigitte Boisselier told the French news agency the child weighed 2.7 kilograms (six pounds), but would not specify in which country the natural birth had taken place.

Sceptical international scientists are still awaiting DNA proof that the first baby - a girl named Eve - is indeed an exact genetic match of her 31-year-old American mother.

Claude Vorilhon - the spiritual leader of the Raelian Movement and founder of Clonaid
The Raelians believe humans were cloned by aliens

DNA tests that were to be carried out on that child were cancelled after the parents asked for a delay, fearing the process could reveal their identity or be used to remove the baby from their care.

Clonaid's claims have brought condemnation from religious leaders and led to renewed calls for human cloning to be banned.

Clonaid was set up by the Raelian religious sect, which believes aliens created mankind.

The head of the Raelians in the Netherlands, Bart Overvliet told Reuters news agency the Dutch woman involved in the latest birth was not a member of the sect and had got in contact with Clonaid by herself.

Clonaid has said that it is expecting a total of five cloned babies it has created.

'Abuse fears'

DNA samples due to be taken from the first baby and her mother on Tuesday were cancelled after a lawsuit was filed against the parents.

Dr Brigitte Boisselier, the scientist leading Clonaid's efforts
The parents want to remain anonymous, Ms Boisselier says
Ms Boisselier said the baby's parents may not let the test be carried out at all.

In the lawsuit filed in Miami by Florida lawyer Bernard Siegel, a court was asked to determine if the parents were fit guardians of the child.

It demands the appearance of the baby's parents in court on 22 January.

Ms Boisselier said the couple may try to remain anonymous and not subject the child to any testing.

"The parents have gone home and they just want some peace and to spend time with their child," she said.

Mr Siegel said he wanted the child to be made a ward of court because he believed that if she is indeed a clone she is being abused.

"I was concerned that, if this is true, this child is an abused child, that it could have some serious genetic, fatal problems and that the child was being exploited by Clonaid," he said.

"I perceived that this child, more than any other child in the world, needs legal protection under the United States courts."

In the cloning process, the nucleus of cell containing human DNA is transplanted into a woman's egg from which the nucleus has been removed.

Alien heritage

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation into the cloning claims, even though the cloning is said to have happened outside the US.

Clonaid was founded in the Bahamas in 1997 by the man who founded the Raelians - Rael.

He is reported to have said he views cloning as a step towards reaching eternal life.



TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: clone; raelians
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To: InvisibleChurch
Dude you are freaking me out. I don't want to go to work Monday, can you fill in.

ROTFLMAO!

61 posted on 01/04/2003 1:42:44 PM PST by NeoCaveman
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
I guess a shoofly pie's motto is: "You can never be too rich, or too dry"

Ironically, that was my ex-girlfriend's motto, as well.

62 posted on 01/04/2003 1:46:46 PM PST by AmishDude
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To: Andy from Beaverton
Would Christopher Reeve SINCERELY turn down the chance for a new body cloned from himself which could potentially house his memories and consciousness? What if we can clone a human NOT to have the parts of the brain associated with sophisticated human thought? Then Christopher Reeve's memory lobes could theoretically be transferred to the new, more primitive version of his brain in the walking version of himself. Shouldn't he get the chance to make the decision?
63 posted on 01/04/2003 1:48:15 PM PST by End The Hypocrisy
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To: End The Hypocrisy
Christopher Reeve's memory lobes could theoretically be transferred to the new, more primitive version of his brain

That's hardly a theory, more of a speculation. It is not known where memory, or personality, or consciousness, or awareness resides.

64 posted on 01/04/2003 1:53:15 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: RightWhale
>>>It is not known where memory, or personality, or consciousness, or awareness resides.<<<

Aren't there plenty of brain surgeons who would disagree with theologians on that assertion?
65 posted on 01/04/2003 1:54:51 PM PST by End The Hypocrisy
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To: End The Hypocrisy
Shouldn't he get the chance to make the decision?

Should Christopher Reeve be allowed to dictate cloning policy because he's in a wheelchair? Ummm.... no.

The way the Hollywood left props up this poor, desperate, broken man at every turn is utterly shameful.

66 posted on 01/04/2003 2:04:43 PM PST by WarSlut
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To: WarSlut
>>>The way the Hollywood left props up this poor, desperate, broken man at every turn is utterly shameful.<<<


Judging from your selected nickname, I'm surprised you don't have more sympathy for the similar plight of many war veterans.
67 posted on 01/04/2003 2:06:05 PM PST by End The Hypocrisy
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To: End The Hypocrisy
Aren't there plenty of brain surgeons who would disagree

While some motor functions have been found to be localized in the brain and lower down in the CNS, these other attributes remain mysteries.

68 posted on 01/04/2003 2:06:13 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: AmishDude; Cagey
Life is full of irony, huh? (You realize I spit on my screen when I read your comment, right?)
69 posted on 01/04/2003 2:06:17 PM PST by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: RightWhale
>>>While some motor functions have been found to be localized in the brain and lower down in the CNS, these other attributes remain mysteries.<<<

At least to theologians lacking a brain surgeon's training, anyway...


70 posted on 01/04/2003 2:09:40 PM PST by End The Hypocrisy
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To: RightWhale
Shouldn't he get the chance to make the decision?

If he has $200,000. left, he can go for it. Call Bridgette, 1-800-for-cash. They will take his money, that's what this is all about.

71 posted on 01/04/2003 2:10:09 PM PST by RGSpincich
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To: InvisibleChurch
I dunno about all the hoohoo surrounding this 'event', but I will say that I haven't been more entertained by the news than in the last couple of weeks.

Come on now, Space Alien Sex Cult?!? And I can't remember the last time I've seen news anchors have so much fun with a story.

72 posted on 01/04/2003 2:15:20 PM PST by Virtch
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Comment #73 Removed by Moderator

To: End The Hypocrisy
Theologians and philosophers know little of these attributes. Brain surgeons are technicians. Psychology, a science, might be a more fruitful field to research.
74 posted on 01/04/2003 2:17:59 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
(You realize I spit on my screen when I read your comment, right?)

Again, just like my ex-girlfriend.


OK, OK, I'll stop now. But you just left me an opening.

Just like . . .


This is becoming a problem! ;)

75 posted on 01/04/2003 2:18:33 PM PST by AmishDude
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To: End The Hypocrisy
My screenname's a reference to Christiane Amanpour.

Christopher Reeve ain't a war veteran.

Cloing and harvesting human beings is science run amok. If you can't get around the potential benefits to Christopher Reeve and see the obvious risks to humanity involved, there's not much I can do here (no point in butting heads with someone who sees legitimacy in the Raelians and their good works....).
76 posted on 01/04/2003 2:18:34 PM PST by WarSlut
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To: RGSpincich
Let him get the treatment if he wants. More power to him. Doesn't mean someone has to agree with his advocacy of this and other matters.
77 posted on 01/04/2003 2:20:07 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: WarSlut; End The Hypocrisy
The way the Hollywood left props up this poor, desperate, broken man at every turn is utterly shameful.

Hell Reeves would probably eat a live baby if meant he could walk again!

78 posted on 01/04/2003 2:21:53 PM PST by NeoCaveman
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To: AmishDude
Yes, I can see where this is a bit of a problem......then I guess I shouldn't mention that what I didn't like about shoofly pie was that it wasn't creamy, and pie should be creamy........ please don't respond to this.......lol
79 posted on 01/04/2003 2:24:06 PM PST by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
You are so bad...lol
80 posted on 01/04/2003 2:25:23 PM PST by NeoCaveman
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