Research into human stem cells (the basic cell of the body) works by cloning. The medical benefits it might bring include advances in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, cancer, diabetes and degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Discuss with young people the vital distinction between the two types of cloning: reproductive and therapeutic.
Reproductive cloning aims to produce another, whole animal, which is what happened with Dolly the sheep. Very few people support this type of cloning being used on humans, although disreputable scientists claim to be trying it.
What are the objections? Talk about the fears and fantasies of a brave new world where copies of babies are made without two parents. Try to go beyond the "yuk" factor to what young people really think are the central issues.
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