Poll: Human Cloning Is Possible

(CBS)  Since 1996 when a sheep named Dolly became the first mammal cloned, speculation has risen as to whether the cloning of human beings is possible; most Americans now believe it is. However, they are overwhelmingly opposed to the idea.

Three-quarters - 76% - of the American public thinks it is currently possible for scientists to clone humans, while 18% say it is not possible.

Is It Possible To Clone Human Beings?
Yes 76%
No 18

There are some age differences on this question: Older Americans are more skeptical about whether scientists are now able to clone human beings than their younger counterparts. 66% of those age 65 and over think it is currently possible for scientists to clone human beings, 23% think it is not possible. Among those under 65, nearly eight in 10 (78%) think scientists can clone humans and 18% think they cannot.

Even though Americans believe the cloning of human beings is a possibility, large majorities do not think it should be allowed. 85% think human cloning should not be permitted, while only 11% say it should be.

Should Scientists Be Allowed To Clone Humans?
Yes 11%
No 85

While polling shows that Americans are opposed to the cloning of human beings, in a Gallup Poll conducted in 2001, 54% said they approved of cloning designed to aid medical research that might find treatments for certain diseases. 41% disapproved of this type of cloning.

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This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 647 adults, interviewed by telephone May 13-14, 2002. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus four percentage points for results based on the entire sample.

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