Protests expected at lecture by cloning researcher

A leading cloning researcher, Dr Ian Wilmut, will tonight deliver a public lecture in Dublin his work. Dr Wilmut was the scientist who, with colleagues at the Roslin Institute outside Edinburgh, cloned Dolly the sheep, using cells from an adult animal.

Two groups opposed to animal genetic engineering on welfare and ethical grounds plan to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the RDS before the lecture. Dr Wilmut will be discussing the research that led to Dolly and other sheep cloned at the Roslin Institute, including Polly, which was cloned and also genetically engineered to produce human blood factors for haemophiliacs.

He will also talk about his new book, Second Creation: Dolly and the Age of Biological Control, co-authored with his main research collaborators, Dr Keith Campbell and Dr Colin Tudge.

Compassion in World Farming and the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society have joined to mount a protest outside the main gates of the RDS, Ballsbridge, starting at 6 p.m. - an hour before the lecture is scheduled to begin.

"The development of cloned and genetically engineered farm animals is an ongoing process which to date has caused massive amounts of animal suffering," according to a statement issued by Ms Aoife Ni Fhearghail, campaign officer with CWIF Ireland.

"We may not even be aware of the full extent of this suffering, which is all too often unreported."

The CIWF and the IAVS have called for an EU ban on farm animal genetic engineering and cloning.

"We believe that these technologies are inhumane and completely unnecessary," Ms Ni Fhearghail said.

Seats for the lecture, which begins at 7 p.m., are sold out. Only those who have pre-booked seats will gain entry.