The eve of human cloning

President Bush said in April 2002 "We must prevent human
cloning before it starts."

Bush's call did not stop claims that the world's first
'cloned' baby named Eve was born 26.12.02 -– though evidence to support the
claim has failed to eventuate.

The Raelian cult who publicised the news of the apparent
birth of the clone- child to one of their members, has yet to release proof that
the birth actually took place. Publicity for the cult has been widespread, which
may-well have been the purpose for the whole episode.

""Extraordinary claims have to be supported by
extraordinary evidence" says the inventor of DNA fingerprinting Alec Jeffries
of the University of Leicester NZ Herald 14.01.03. A normal child's DNA
fingerprint would be a combination of those of its parents. But a cloned baby
would have just one parent, and their DNA fingerprints would be exactly the
same. Of course, mutations can occur in any cell, so it is possible that the
clone's profile would differ very slightly from the parent, requiring further
testing. However it is not enough for self proclaimed cloners to provide
matching samples. They must prove that one sample is from the child and the
other from the person cloned."

Scientists remain sceptical toward the possibility of solid
proof being obtainable -– the whole process of obtaining such proof would need
to be scrutinised to ensure that sample substitution (cheating) does not take
place in a bid to prove false claims.

Meanwhile, other groups and the odd 'renegade scientist'
are claiming to be on the verge of the birth of cloned children.

In Genesis 2:7 we read that God formed Adam from the elements
of the dust of the ground, and then breathed His breath of life into Adam -–
and Adam became a living soul. Only God can initiate life. To this day, the best
of science can take only what exists (living cells) and effect manipulations and
experiments, God alone can breath life.

Einstein said that 'matter cannot produce information'.
That information comes from intelligence, meaning the DNA code imprint found in
living cells speaks of an intelligent creator. In my limited understanding, it
would appear that the only reason a person within the field of science would not
'see the creator' is because they choose not to see Him!

Psalm 139 tells us that God was watching us as we were being
formed. How this fits in with GE babies I don't know. Verses 15-16 read "My
substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought
in the lowest part of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being
unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance
were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them."

Whether or not man has the right to manipulate DNA to this
extent (cloning) is very debatable -– and it would seem to me to be like
opening Pandora's box. Already we know that the chances of 'getting it all
right', to enable the development of a normal healthy child is almost
impossible. Our attempts will most likely cause suffering to someone, as
scientists mess around in a domain which is 'above them'.

Nevertheless, such is life in 2003 -– and we will continue
to observe as mankind dabbles with 'life itself', ultimately seeking to be
as God.