Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001

H.R. 2608, the Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001, seeks to ban the use of cloning technology for the purpose of initiating a human pregnancy. The bill specifically prohibits the use of somatic cell nuclear transfer—the process of creating a genetic copy of a person—to create a human embryo intended for implantation.

For the average citizen, this legislation would mean that while medical research into stem cells and regenerative medicine could continue, the creation of a "cloned" human being would be illegal under federal law. Additionally, the bill requires researchers using these technologies to register with the government and mandates a comprehensive scientific study to evaluate the medical potential and biological properties of various types of stem cells.