Animal Protection Groups Condemn FDA's Endorsement of Anim...(ere side effects in 30% 50% even 70% ofc...)

Julie Janovsky, Farm Sanctuary's director of campaigns, states that "It is an outrage that the FDA has misrepresented animal health and welfare implications. Cloning is a scientifically unsound and ethically challenged technology that has extremely disturbing welfare implications for animals."

Scientific studies included in the FDA's assessment reveal, for example, that 28 percent of cow clone pregnancies suffer from hydrops, an often fatal condition in which the mother and/or fetus swells with fluid. Over 50 percent of all calf clones suffer from Large Offspring Syndrome, in which the animal is grossly oversized and often displays other abnormalities that create "respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, renal, umbilical, and immunologic problems." Even older clones who appear healthy have been known to develop "adult clone sudden death syndrome," which casts doubt that cloned animals can ever be considered healthy. In contrast, these problems occur in less than five percent of conventional, non-cloned animals, if ever.

The FDA attempts to brush aside all these concerns by stating that problems are decreasing as the technology improves. However, data included in the FDA's own assessment contradicts this finding, and despite years of research, less than five percent of cloning attempts result in an animal who reaches maturity. A leading cloning scientist has even stated that, even in the most optimistic scenario, no more than 20-30 percent of cloning attempts will succeed.

The FDA has stated that it is working with interested parties to address animal health issues by developing standards of animal care for cloning. However, as shown in a 2007 study, 42 percent of clones died despite receiving extensive veterinary care. In addition, the FDA has chosen to partner with the International E
'/>"/>