Cloned embryo implanted in woman - doctor

A 35-year-old woman is hoping to give birth to the world’s first cloned human being after a freshly-cloned embryo was implanted in her, announced US reproductive specialist Dr Panos Zavos in London.

The pioneering implantation was announced by the controversial doctor but he refused to reveal the identity or nationality of the woman.

Dr Zavos said it was not yet known whether the woman would actually fall pregnant and set her chances at “30%”.

He said: “I do not have a pregnancy to announce – standby two or three weeks when we will know more.”

He said the technique was similar to the technology that created Dolly the sheep – the world’s first cloned creature – using skin cells from the woman’s husband.

The move was condemned by pressure group Life as exploiting the woman's desperation for children.

Spokesman Patrick Cusworth said: “Dr Zavos has exposed this 35-year-old woman’s vulnerability to almost incredible risk.”

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority – which licenses and monitors all human embryo research in the UK – said that it would be illegal to implant a cloned human embryo in Britain.

“The Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 makes it a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine to place into a woman an embryo created by any means other than by fertilisation,” it said in a statement.