On August 17, 2000, Diário de Notícias da Madeira reported on a UK Government report that recommended authorizing the use and cloning of stem cells from human embryos under 14 days old.
The aim was to enable the development of body tissues, such as skin, for medical purposes. However, the document prohibited human cloning for reproductive purposes and genetic manipulation for reproduction.
The news highlighted scientific expectations surrounding therapeutic cloning, inspired by Dolly the sheep, for treating degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The proposal sparked an intense ethical debate among the scientific community, parliamentarians, religious groups, and pro-life organizations.
