Baby cloning claims may be 'elaborate hoax'
A freelance journalist who said he would oversee DNA testing to prove whether the first human clone has been produced has suspended his efforts.
Michael Guillen, a former science editor for US network ABC, said claims by Clonaid that cloning had taken place may be an elaborate hoax.
The testing has been blocked by the parents of the baby, according to Clonaid, the company that made the claim on December 27.
Clonaid was founded by the Raelian religious sect that believes space aliens created life on Earth and acknowledges that outside DNA testing would be needed to make their claim credible.
In a statement, Mr Guillen said he had assembled experts to do the work but suspended the effort last night.
“The team of scientists has had no access to the alleged family and, therefore, cannot verify first-hand the claim that a human baby has been cloned,” Guillen said.
“In other words, it’s still entirely possible Clonaid’s announcement is part of an elaborate hoax intended to bring publicity to the Raelian movement.”
Mr Guillen indicated he was still willing to proceed.
“When, and if, an opportunity to collect DNA samples as promised does arise, however, the team stands fully prepared to re-mobilise and conduct the necessary tests.”
Mr Guillen has insisted he has no connection to Clonaid. But in his statement he said he had been interested in doing a documentary on human cloning that would involve Clonaid’s work and that he had covered the “principal players” in human cloning since Dolly the sheep in 1997.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Mr Guillen tried months ago to sell exclusive coverage of Clonaid’s first baby to the major broadcast networks.
On Saturday, Clonaid chief executive Brigitte Boisselier said the baby’s parents had promised to give her a final answer about whether they would allow DNA tests.
A spokesman for Mr Guillen said his statement was not connected to that.
