2010 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript

This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2010. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.

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What are the obligations of cloning a human? What are the risks? Has it been done or not?
     Judy Miller, M.S.: I retired several years ago from my position as genetic counselor after establishing a new program in cancer genetic at Carle Clinic in Urbana, IL. Prior to that, I worked for many years in a setting where I practiced genetic counseling where I worked with patients in all areas of genetics: pediatrics, prenatal, adult genetics, and metabolic. I participated in this chat room last year and enjoyed it very much! No, it has not been done and I do not expect that it will be done. Cloning requires difficult laboratory techniques and very often the result is not what is expected or hoped for. In my opinion, it is unethical to do such a risky experiment with human life.
Palms Middle School in CA (7th grade student)

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