Cloning ban 'may drive scientists to UK'

The United States can expect a scientific exodus to Britain if Congress succeeds in criminalising ‘‘therapeutic’’ human cloning for medical purposes, biotechnology executives say.

‘‘If this is outlawed in the United States, we will see our best scientific minds moving overseas,’’ said Tom Tureen, a director of Advanced Cell Technology, the only US company that has gone public with plans to clone eggs to make human embryos for use in a variety of therapies.