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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

2:00 p.m.

DISCUSSION Meeting Room

Egg Transplants--Josh Lederberg

Assume (as will be explicated on demand) that a technical
possibility exists for "cloning" in man, most plausibly

by transplanting cell nuclei into the egg. Assume further
that some of the initial resistance to any application of
such a procedure may have been surmounted by its use, e.g.,
to the relief of some forms of genetic defect or sterility.

A number of ethical and political questions arise:

1)

2)

3)

4)

If there is any possibility of authoritarian abuse,
should scientists turn their backs on relevant research,
even in animals? Suggest some non-obvious "abuses"; what
safeguards are called for to avert statist intrusions,
assuming these should be averted?

Will narcissism impel a widespread diffusion of such a
method of reproduction?

What is the ethics of manipulating the genotype of the
newborn (for any motive)? How is this distinguished from
ecucating-socializing the child in a predetermined cultural
pattern?*

What would be the "shape of a world" in which 1, 10, or
100% of births were clonal? (A biologist can suggest
some moderately, not very alarming, consequences. )

*This is the corner I would most wish to see illuminated.

J...