Clonaid

Clonaid

File:Clonaidlogo.jpeg
Company type	Private
Industry	Biotechnology
Predecessor	Valiant Venture Ltd.
Founded	Bahamas (1997)
Founder	Raël
Headquarters	Riverside, California
Key people	Brigitte Boisselier, Thomas Kaenzig
Products	RMX568, RMX2010
Services	CLONAID, INSURACLONE, OVULAID, CLONAPET
Subsidiaries	BioFusion Tech Inc.
Website	clonaid.com

Clonaid is a biotechnology firm incorporated in the Bahamas in 1997 by Raël, the founder of the UFO-centered Raëlism movement. The company advocates for human cloning as a pathway toward achieving immortality. On December 27, 2002, Clonaid's chief executive officer, Brigitte Boisselier, declared the birth of a cloned infant named Eve, an announcement that generated intense media scrutiny and ethical debates. This claim prompted legal inquiries concerning the child's welfare and the authenticity of Clonaid’s statements. The enterprise faced criticism from bioethicists and legal authorities who doubted both its scientific validity and business practices.

Company founding

Clonaid was created with the purpose of financing research into human cloning, consistent with the ideological principles of Raëlism. Its inception in 1997 ignited discussions on bioethics and calls for regulatory oversight amid contrasting international stances—while European nations prohibited cloning activities, the United States imposed a federal ban on funding such research. Claude Vorilhon, the founder, opposed these limitations, arguing that cloning technology itself did not pose inherent risks.

By mid-1998, reports indicated that Clonaid’s main office was located in Las Vegas; however, financial support for human cloning studies remained scarce. The company estimated the cost for cloning services at $200,000—a figure considerably less than other scientific projections—and viewed pet cloning as a potential revenue stream to sustain its broader objectives. Despite skepticism from mainstream researchers about imminent breakthroughs in human cloning, Clonaid continued to pursue its strategic aims within the biotech sector.

Premise

On June 9, 1997, Clonaid revealed intentions to provide genetically identical children to same-sex and infertile couples as part of advancing human cloning technology. The Raëlian leader together with investors established Valiant Venture Ltd. in the Bahamas to oversee this initiative, which targeted a customer base estimated at one million individuals.

On September 21, 2000, Claude Vorilhon announced that an affluent American couple had agreed to finance Clonaid’s efforts to clone their deceased ten-month-old daughter for $1.5 million; however, the wife declined participation as a surrogate mother. Fertility expert Jamie Grifo and Nobel Prize winner Paul Berg criticized this announcement as misleading and offering false hope. Clonaid’s representative Brigitte Boisselier disclosed that four scientists were involved—a biochemist, a geneticist, an expert in cell fusion, and a medical doctor—but did not reveal their names or those of the funding couple.

Responses by scientists

George Seidel, an authority on cloning at Colorado State University, remarked that human cloning could be achievable provided there were enough egg donors or surrogate mothers available. Molecular biologist Lee Silver pointed out that Raëlians’ pro-cloning stance could facilitate recruiting surrogates more easily. Michael D. West, CEO of Advanced Cell Technology, confirmed that cloning techniques were accessible publicly for medical research purposes. Specialists acknowledged that understanding of human reproductive biology is advanced enough to potentially yield greater success rates in cloning humans compared to animals.

Boisselier forecasted imminent commencement of work on preserved cells; nevertheless, no proof existed that Clonaid possessed requisite medical expertise or had successfully cloned a human being. The company's assertions were broadly perceived as publicity-driven without substantiating evidence.

Year preceding the alleged cloned infant announcement

During the spring of 2001, the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations conducted an inspection of Clonaid's laboratory situated in Nitro, West Virginia. This facility occupied a leased space within a former high school building. Investigators from the FDA determined that the research documentation was insufficient, although they observed that the laboratory equipment—acquired by ex-state legislator Mark Hunt, who aimed to clone his late son—was technologically advanced. After this inquiry, Hunt consented to the FDA’s request to refrain from pursuing cloning activities within United States borders.

In March 2001, Clonaid’s CEO Boisselier declared that a woman would be pregnant with a cloned embryo by April, asserting that cellular development had reached the blastocyst phase; however, no specifics regarding implantation or pregnancy confirmation were shared. By November of the same year, Clonaid claimed its laboratory was located outside U.S. territory and asserted it had successfully created human cloned embryos prior to Advanced Cell Technology. These assertions, however, were never independently verified, and skepticism persisted among officials due to Clonaid’s association with the Raëlian movement and the absence of tangible proof.

Claimed cloned infant Eve

On December 27, 2002, Boisselier publicly announced at a press event in Hollywood, Florida, that Clonaid had accomplished the first instance of human reproductive cloning. She stated that the child—a healthy female named Eve—was delivered by Caesarean section outside of the United States. Nonetheless, Boisselier did not provide access to the mother or child nor supply DNA evidence to substantiate this claim. The announcement was made prior to any genetic testing and reflected belief rather than verified findings.

Subsequent to this declaration, South Korean authorities conducted a raid on Clonaid’s Korean affiliate, BioFusion Tech, confiscating documents and preventing two company representatives from departing the country. BioFusion Tech revealed that three Korean women had applied as surrogates for cloning purposes and that an additional ten women had expressed interest in undergoing cloning procedures themselves.

The FDA responded by announcing intentions to investigate Clonaid for potential violations of federal laws prohibiting human cloning without agency approval. Certain members of the U.S. Congress questioned whether the FDA held jurisdiction over cloning activities and advocated for explicit legislative prohibitions.

Political and ethical reactions

US President George W. Bush characterized human cloning as "deeply troubling" to a majority of Americans. Kansas Republican Sam Brownback called for a comprehensive congressional prohibition on human cloning, whereas some Democratic lawmakers voiced apprehension that Clonaid’s announcement might lead to restrictions on therapeutic cloning research. Dr. Phil Noguchi, head of biotechnology at the FDA, cautioned that human cloning could pose risks such as transmission of sexually transmitted infections to cloned offspring. The White House also issued criticism regarding Clonaid’s claims.

Panos Zavos, formerly a professor at the University of Kentucky who intended to create human clone embryos himself, dismissed Clonaid’s assertions as unfounded and insisted that Eve did not exist. Severino Antinori, Zavos’ collaborator, condemned the announcement for lacking scientific substantiation and for generating confusion. Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technologies noted Clonaid had yet to demonstrate any cloning accomplishments but warned that a successful human clone might provoke public backlash and jeopardize therapeutic cloning efforts capable of treating millions. The Vatican denounced these claims as ethically egregious, while the Christian Coalition of America urged for a ban on cloning, labeling the purported clone as an "aberration."

Bioethicists such as Alta Charo from the University of Wisconsin–Madison emphasized the significant risks associated with miscarriage and abnormalities in cloned mammals. Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, expressed concerns regarding potential harms stemming from human cloning practices.

Petition for a temporary guardian

Clonaid representative Nadine Gary asserted that Eve returned home with her mother on December 30, 2002. Nevertheless, Florida lawyer Bernard Siegel submitted a petition to Broward County Circuit Court requesting the appointment of a temporary guardian for the alleged clone. Clonaid engaged attorneys Barry Wax and Jonathan Schwartz to handle the legal matter. During the hearing, Dr. Boisselier testified under oath that a cloned child resided outside the United States, specifically in Israel, yet she did not provide supporting evidence. She indicated that Eve would undergo DNA analysis in the United States and confirmed that a pediatrician had examined both Eve and her mother, who was reportedly 31 years old with an infertile spouse. Boisselier declined to disclose information about the surrogate's birthplace or the laboratory conducting tests.

Siegel issued subpoenas for Clonaid Vice President Thomas Kaenzig and "Jane Doe," the supposed mother, aiming to secure disclosure and ensure the child's protection, expressing concerns that Clonaid might lack adequate medical care capabilities. Despite judicial pressure, Clonaid obstructed scientific access to both Eve and her mother.

Demand for DNA confirmation testing

Michael Guillen, formerly the science editor at ABC News, coordinated independent specialists to perform DNA testing to validate Clonaid’s cloning assertions. Clonaid declined to reveal the identities of these experts, citing confidentiality to safeguard the infant and family privacy. The organization stated that parental consent was required before proceeding with any testing and identified a Dutch lesbian couple as prospective parents. Boisselier pledged to provide proof of a cloned birth but remained guarded about detailing cloning techniques.

Vorilhon later asserted that the infant was healthy, implying this fact would counter ethical criticisms against cloning. Florida Judge John Frusciante Sr. persuaded Clonaid official Thomas Kaenzig via telephone to share limited information. Kaenzig admitted he was unaware of cloning specifics and revealed that Clonaid lacked formal corporate status. Both Kaenzig and Boisselier were summoned to court with contempt warnings should they fail to appear. Under oath, Boisselier stated she had viewed videos depicting a cloned child born in Israel.

Guillen voiced frustration when Clonaid retracted its offer for DNA testing, citing parental apprehensions regarding custody during testing procedures. Meanwhile, attorney Bernard Siegel pursued guardianship over the child and threatened legal action. Despite widespread doubt, Guillen cautioned against dismissing Clonaid’s claims without thorough verification.

Assertions of additional human clones

Following Boisselier’s declarations, she announced expectations of four more cloned humans within weeks and claimed Clonaid maintained a roster of couples prepared for cloning procedures. She mentioned plans for 20 further embryo implantations following an initial ten from the previous year. Boisselier compared unsuccessful cloning efforts to early miscarriages in in vitro fertilization practices, noting any fetus exhibiting abnormalities would be terminated.

Raëlian spokesperson Bart Overvliet reported another cloned infant born to a Dutch lesbian couple, with both mother and child reportedly healthy. Dutch officials observed that although human cloning was prohibited by law, the birth of cloned infants was not explicitly forbidden. On January 5, 2003, Boisselier asserted her team had generated hundreds of cloned embryos resulting in ten implantations and two births; however, experts remained unconvinced.

A Japanese Raëlian representative announced a cloned male infant derived from DNA of a comatose two-year-old child, utilizing a surrogate due to maternal health complications. Clonaid provided only vague descriptions of their cloning methods but noted this case involved injecting the surrogate’s egg with the donor DNA. Concerns lingered regarding health risks frequently observed in cloned animals.

Boisselier revealed that Mark and Tracy Hunt invested $500,000 into Clonaid’s laboratory in West Virginia before it was shut down by the FDA and proposed creating a cloning facility on an island in Brazil. Clonaid claimed five cloned infants born between December 2002 and February 2003 had developed normally.

In July 2002, Clonaid’s South Korean subsidiary BioFusion Tech announced a pregnancy involving a human clone; however, South Korea subsequently outlawed human cloning with strict penalties. By February 2004, Clonaid declared a sixth clone had been born in Australia and reported embryo production in South Korea. Korean scientists criticized Clonaid for damaging local stem cell research reputations. By March 2004, Clonaid claimed thirteen cloned infants had been born overall.

In September 2018, rapper Kid Buu asserted he was a human clone created by Clonaid; this claim was largely perceived as a promotional stunt.

Embryonic cell fusion apparatus

In addition to its cloning services, Clonaid introduced the RMX 2010, a device designed for embryonic cell fusion.

During the International Bio Expo held in Japan, Thomas Kaenzig, Clonaid's vice president, revealed the launch of BioFusion Tech Inc., a subsidiary based in South Korea. This branch was responsible for creating the RMX2010, which purportedly produces the electronic stimulus necessary to advance human embryos to the blastocyst phase — a critical milestone in cloning procedures. BioFusion Tech operates with a team of nine employees, including three Korean technicians, and reportedly received approximately ten inquiries about cloning services, with fees estimated near $200,000.

Despite these claims, CNN Money listed the RMX 2010 among the "Dumbest Moments in Business 2003," criticizing its ambiguous purpose and highlighting Clonaid's unwillingness to disclose its internal components even while loaning it to a science museum in Britain.

Heightened skepticism

Numerous scientists voiced doubts regarding both Clonaid's assertions and ethical stance. Among them were Lord Robert Winston, director of IVF research at London's Hammersmith Hospital, and Tanja Dominko from the Oregon Regional Primate Center. Experts emphasize that animal cloning success rates remain low, with many cloned offspring exhibiting severe malformations or dying before birth. Clonaid’s claimed achievements either represent an unprecedented breakthrough or suggest fabrication.

Charging up to $200,000 for cloning services, Clonaid has yet to present credible proof of human cloning despite early assurances. They reported that parents of the purported first cloned child refused scientific verification following legal proceedings initiated by attorney Bernard Siegel. Court filings revealed Clonaid maintained only two staff members, lacked an official office location, and had no board of directors. CBS News further disclosed that Clonaid was not legally registered as a company; Boisselier acknowledged that Clonaid functioned primarily as a brand name, even though its website portrayed it as an established corporation.

In popular media

The American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live satirized Clonaid’s claim of producing "Eve," humorously portraying the infant as physically deformed.

Further reading

• Raël, Intelligent Design. Nova Distribution, 2005. .
• Raël, Yes to Human Cloning: Immortality Thanks to Science. Tagman Press, 2001. ; .
• Stock, Gregory, Redesigning Humans: Choosing our Genes, Changing our Future. Houghton Mifflin Books, 2002. .
• Tandy, Charles, Doctor Tandy's First Guide to Life Extension and Transhumanity. Universal-Publishers.com, 2001. .

External links

• Rael.org – The underlying philosophy of the Clonaid initiative.
• BBC news: Clonaid instructed to disclose 'clone'
• Analysis of the Cloning Incident