Loophole in law on cloning

LOOPHOLES IN the law could let British scientists perform "therapeutic cloning" experiments of the kind banned by the Government last week. But a leading cloning researcher, Dr Jean-Paul Renard, warns that they could lead to cancer in patients who received transplants containing the cells.

The Government has said it would delay a decision on licensing experiments in which scientists try to grow cloned embryonic cells in the laboratory. Such techniques could potentially lead to entire organs being grown outside the body ready for transplant.

But such methods are not banned in the US - and it would be legal to import the cells, once grown, according to New Scientist magazine.