Cloning for human reproductive purposes is illegal in two dozen countries.
Cattle are also used as models for human reproductive biology and infectious diseases.
Because exposure measures for most of the chemicals of interest are limited, there is a critical need to quantify internal dose levels for potential human reproductive toxicants.
In particular, NMP is regarded as a potential human reproductive hazard, which is easily absorbed through skin.
Although very low levels of estrogenic compounds can stimulate cell activity, the potential for human health effects, such as breast and prostate cancers, and reproductive effects from exposure to endocrine disruptors, is in debate (Weyer and Riley 2001).
Actually, BBP is one of the phthalates selected by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), because of its high production volume, potential for human exposure from their widespread use and occurrence within the environment, concern to the public, and published evidence of reproductive or developmental toxicity [ 6].
Phthalates are of high interest because of their potential for human exposure and because animal toxicity studies suggest that some phthalates affect male reproductive development apparently via inhibition of androgen biosynthesis.
The potential for human suffering is great.
In respect of (for instance) human reproductive cloning, genetically modified organisms, nanotechnology, robotics and geoengineering, regulation will be called for, on ethical as well as prudential grounds.
Dr Kenneth Setchell, professor of paediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, states that mice, rats and monkeys all metabolise soya isoflavones differently from humans and that the only appropriate model for examining human reproductive development is the human infant.
