Scientist Claims Clone Will Be Born In January
Experts Repeatedly Dismiss Scientist's Claims
Updated: 6:08 p.m. EST November 26, 2002
An Italian fertility expert said the first cloned baby will be born in January, but some say his statements don't add up.
According to Ireland Online, Antinori said the mother is in her 33rd week of pregnancy and the child weighs 5.5 pounds. He refused to say where the infant would be born, saying it would be only in "countries where this is permitted."
Antinori announced in April that he knew of three pregnancies involving cloned babies. He said Tuesday that the oldest of these will be born in January.
However, the pregnancy's gestation would have ended in mid-November, based on Antinori's statement in April. The scientist would not explain the discrepancy Tuesday.
Antinori refused to specify if he had any role in the alleged clonings, and refused to identify the scientists involved.
Antinori, who runs a private fertility clinic in Rome, is not a new participant in the cloning debate. Last year, he unveiled his plans to begin a human cloning program before the National Association of Sciences in Washington, D.C.
He gained attention in the 1990s when he used donor eggs and hormones to help post-menopausal women to have children.
Experts have repeatedly dismissed Antiniori's claims and say they doubt that he is capable of achieving a cloned pregnancy.
Copyright 2002 by WHIOTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.