The Uses and Misuses of Cloning: Age of Biological Control
Program Titles
- Scientist famous for cloning a sheep
- Gene Expression
Ian Wilmut, professor is uniquely qualified both as a pioneer in the science of cloning and as a participant in the public discussions of its possible social and ethical consequences. He is the leader of the team that produced Dolly the sheep in 1996, the first animal to be cloned from an adult cell. Since Dolly’s birth, he has become something of an international figure as an expert on cloning techniques, and his laboratory continues to play a leading role in the development of methods for the cloning and genetic modification of animals.
Dr. Wilmut’s own research centers on the cloning of human embryos to provide stem cells for treatment of degenerative disorders such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. He has been a frequent advocate of the medical benefits to be derived from this new technology, giving many public lectures on the subject and participating in numerous panel discussions on the potential uses and misuses of cloning. He has also testified in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States before parliamentary and congressional committees considering the legislative regulation of cloning.
Dr. Wilmut has a distinguished record of ground-breaking biological research. His subsequent research led to the birth of the first calf from a frozen embryo — “Frosty” — in 1973. The objectives of current research are to develop biomedical applications of the nuclear-transfer procedure: these include the provision of modified animal organs and human stem cells for therapy.
Ian Wilmut’s work has been recognized by many awards and honorary degrees. Dr. Wilmut has written a large number of popular articles on the subject of cloning, including pieces for Time, New Scientist, and Scientific American.
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