Experiments or research in human cloning is an offense punishable by law and any violation means a fine of SR200,000 and six months in jail.
According to a new law on ethics in the research of synthetic biology, violators also face sanctions that begin with a warning to suspend research until further notice.
Cloning is the process of producing genetically identical individuals without natural conception. Because of legal, ethical and health hazards resulting from such production, a decision to impose such fines and sanctions was made.
The law prohibits research on human gametes (a male or female cell that unites with a cell of the opposite sex to be finally developed into an embryo) and fertilization unless done within the ambit of the Shariah and the generally accepted medical norms, and if the research is justified in terms of its contribution to medical knowledge and technological applications.
Under the new law, it is mandatory for a researcher to take approval from the human gametes’ donors or spouses, in addition to informing them on the expected benefits and hazards of the research. “Human organs could be used for medical purposes in scientific research only after acquiring official authorization.”
The law states that research on human embryos is prohibited, but allowed only for purposes such as finding a cure for infertility, in which case the research must be carried out in a facility certified to treat such problems.
Carrying out experiments that may benefit human embryos, or to gain new knowledge about the conditions and status of embryos, which are likely to benefit the humans as well, are allowed.
The law also permits research on tissues, living cells and separate human parts, including stem cells taken from the umbilical cord, or from the elderly. However, for doing this, there are tough conditions such as not cloning embryos for the purpose of obtaining and using its stem cells in research, and not using surplus fertilized eggs outside the womb, or deliberately fertilizing the egg and the sperm from donors for therapeutic purposes or for stem cell research.
Research on minors or the mentally challenged is prohibited unless the researcher gets formal authorization from parents or guardians by informing them the implications and risks involved. Parents or guardians have the right to withdraw their approval during any stage of research if they think that the process is not in the best interests of their child, the law states.
The law says that prisoners should be treated like any other individual while conducting medical research on them, even if they face the death sentence.
Local prison committees should not give approval for such research on prisoners’ behalf unless the research aims to study criminal behavior without putting his/her life at risk, or aims to study the circumstances of prisons, the inmates, diseases that spread inside, or the circumstances that led to committing the crime, the law states.
Cloning a punishable offense
Cloning a punishable offense
History lives in stone in AlUla’s ancient city of Dadan
ALULA: The ancient city of Dadan is “one of the most significant historical discoveries in AlUla governorate and a key landmark reflecting the depth of human history in northwest Arabia,” according to an article published by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.
Dadan served as the capital of the Kingdom of Dadan and later of the Kingdom of Lihyan, from the late ninth century to the early first century B.C., the report stated.
Among the site’s most striking features are tombs carved into red rock cliff faces. Some are distinguished by rectangular facades crowned with lion carvings, a symbol often associated with power. “These structures reflect a sophisticated level of artistic and architectural skill, highlighting the advanced craftsmanship of the region’s ancient inhabitants,” the SPA wrote.
Constructed primarily from local stone, the city developed into an important hub for agriculture and trade. Its strategic position along the Incense Route — one of the most vital trade routes in the ancient world — enabled Dadan to flourish economically while facilitating cultural exchange.
Merchants, travelers and envoys passing through the city contributed to the circulation of goods and ideas across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
Archeological excavations at Dadan are ongoing, with teams of specialists conducting “systematic research in successive scientific phases to uncover additional structures, inscriptions and artifacts that may further clarify the city’s historical role and daily life,” according to the SPA.
AlUla’s recorded history spans more than 7,000 years of human presence. Discoveries at Dadan — including inscriptions and written records — continue to reshape understanding of the region’s social, economic and political development, “reinforcing AlUla’s status as an open-air archive of ancient civilization,” the SPA concluded.
