4/30/97 Contact: Kevin M. Sanders, Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics, 614-593-9802

ATHENS, Ohio -- When scientists in Scotland successfully transferred adult sheep cells to unfertilized sheep eggs, they created more than the world's first clone of a living mammal. Scrutiny of the scientists' accomplishments has included questions about the ethics of cloning research, and the possibility that the technology may one day be used to clone humans.

A panel of researchers and ethicists at Ohio University will address these and other issues surrounding cloning at 4 p.m. Monday (May 5) in Anderson Auditorium in Scripps Hall.

"People often see life as a domain that we shouldn't touch, and any attempt by scientists to manipulate life in any way often brings out fear," said Calvin James, an associate professor of virology and a panelist for the talk. "As scientists, we need to explain what the limitations of this technology are so people realize many of their fears could never be realized."

Other panelists will be Michael Bugeja, special adviser to the president on standards and professor of journalism, Gene Blocker, professor of philosophy, Thomas Shostak, dean of Lifelong Learning and assistant professor of applied behavioral sciences and educational leadership, and Rick Milter, associate professor of management systems. Arthur Zucker, associate professor of philosophy and the director of the Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics, will moderate the panel.

The discussion is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Institute for Applied and Professional Ethics. Visit the Institute's web site at http://www.ohiou.edu/~iape/.