JAPANESE MINISTRY LIMITS R&D CLONING FUNDS

March 8, 1997

TOKYO (Asahi Shimbun) -- The Education Ministry said Friday it will not allocate funds for scientific research on cloning humans by using human tissues.

Officials said the decision was based chiefly on ethical problems.

In the absence of domestic regulations on cloning animals, a body under the Science Council, which advises the education minister, will start studying cloning technologies so that guidelines on cloning can be set up, they said.

According to the ministry, some universities in Japan are conducting experiments on cloning cattle or mice.

The ministry plans to continue to extend funds to studies on the cloning of animals, but any research on the adoption of cloning technologies for humans will be exempt from financial assistance, the officials said.