Panos Zavos

Dr. Panagiotis Zavos[1] (Παναγιώτης Ζαβός, or Panos Zavos, Πάνος Ζαβός) is a Greek-Cypriot geneticist from Cyprus.

Cloning controversy

Zavos has made controversial claims about human cloning.

2002

Zavos [1] declared the year 2002 as "the year of human clones" [1] and [1].

2003

On May 20, 2003 he announced the creation of a human clone, according to this news report (in Greek).

2004

On January 17, 2004, from London, he announced again the creation and transfer of a cloned cloned embryo, according to news reports in English and in Greek.

Criticism

In both announcements he gave no satisfactory evidence. Other scientists doubt his claimed accomplishments.

In 2002 Spyros Simitis, the brother of Costas Simitis, characterised Zavos's claims as "scientific barbarism". He expressed his opinion that if human cloning were to become reality, it would mean the "end of human freedom and evolution". He also referred to the possible use of cloning by governments for controlling and shaping society according to the government's will.

Zavos on cloning ethics

Zavos notes that the Biblical injunction is "thou shall not kill" rather than "though shall not clone", and that the Bible does not explain or specify how humans should reproduce. He argues that any form of assisted reproduction (such as in vitro fertilization, or "IVF") is equally unnatural, but such methods are widely and successfully used today. According to Zavos, cloning can help a small percentage of childless couples to have biological children of their own "if they have exausted all other means of assisted reproduction". Thus, cloning would further his belief that "all humans should have the right to have a child, the gift of life". He adds that all people have the right not to be cloned if cloning is against their ethics.