The cloning of animals could result in considerable economic benefits. Every effort should be made, however, to preserve the original genetic diversity by maintaining at least small herds of the original donors. Cloning of humans, on the other hand, including research directed towards that end, is totally unacceptable and must be prohibited by law. Just recently nineteen countries from Europe, Scandinavia, and the Near East signed an agreement to prohibit human cloning. It has
been announced that a proposal for an emergency prohibition on the cloning of humans will be introduced in the U.S. Congress in the session beginning in January 1998. In response to the claim by a physicist that he will soon initiate research on human cloning, the Federal Food and Drug Administration warned that this agency will shut down any such efforts that are without its permission. It should be clear that with human cloning vital interests rest not on any potential
successes, but on its certain failures.

       The as yet unsuccessful attempts to correct genetic diseases (such as hemophilia) through genetic manipulation will be discussed in a future article. Also to be covered are the successful production of human proteins in the milk of pigs, cows, and sheep, as well as the introduction of beneficial changes in plants by genetic manipulation. It must be borne in mind that all such genetic manipulations merely use what God has produced and are limited by the fact that genetic systems are incredibly complex and are difficult to manipulate without producing harmful and even lethal results. We can repair defective genetic systems, but we cannot improve a normal, healthy genetic system.

      The question is often asked, would a human clone have a soul? Absolutely. Occasionally some people are troubled by the assumed possibility that human manipulation will present a problem too hard for God to solve. But with God nothing is impossible. He is always far ahead and above anything man may do. In fact, I am a clone, just as is true of all others who have identical twins. I am certain that both my twin brother and I have a God-given soul.