The Case for Human Cloning: Lawrence Lecture Series Examines Issues in Biomedical Ethics

APPLETON, WIS. -- A University of Alabama-Birmingham bioethicist will defend the argument for human cloning in the opening address of a five-part Lawrence University lecture series in biomedical ethics focusing on clinical practice and health policy issues.

Gregory Pence, professor of philosophy, presents, "Who's Afraid of Cloning?," Monday, Jan. 22 at 8:30 p.m. in Lawrence's Science Hall, Room 102. The event is free and open to the public.

Pence, who teaches a course in medical ethics in UAB's School of Medicine, will clarify misconceptions people have about cloning and argue the federal government has no constitutional basis to ban how any American wants to reproduce. He also will present arguments in support of cloning, including overcoming infertility, hereditary diseases now untestable in embryos and the desire of couples to have a child with some genetic connection to one of them.

A recipient of UAB's most prestigious teaching award, the Ingalls Award for Best Teaching in the Classroom, Pence has written five books on medical ethics issues, including last year's "Re-Creating Medicine" and "Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans" in 1998.