January 3, 2002: Human Cloning - Dr. Ronald Munson

Art Bell welcomes Professor Ronald Munson, a bioethics expert from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, for a wide-ranging discussion on human cloning and stem cell research. Munson, who holds a Ph.D. from Columbia and completed postdoctoral work in biology at Harvard, breaks down the science behind embryonic stem cells and their extraordinary potential for regenerative medicine.

The conversation covers the ethical battleground surrounding the destruction of embryos for stem cell harvesting, with Munson arguing that a 300-cell embryo is fundamentally different from a developing fetus. He outlines the promises of the technology, from growing replacement organs using a patient's own genetic material to treating Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injuries. Art pushes the discussion further into designer humans, enhanced intelligence, and the creation of subservient beings.

Art and Munson also examine the inevitability of reproductive cloning, the failures observed in animal cloning experiments, and whether the United States risks falling behind Europe and Asia by restricting research. The program opens with listener reactions to a striking Japanese parking garage ghost video and a lively open lines segment on the merits of broadcasting in stereo.