[Pfc.Green]

HOLLYWOOD (Reuters) - A scientist associated with a group that believes extraterrestrials created mankind claimed Friday that her company had produced the first clone of a human being.


The company, Clonaid, announced at a news conference Friday in Hollywood, north of Miami, that it had cloned a baby girl who appeared to have been born healthy.


"I'm very, very pleased to announce that the first baby clone is born," chemist Brigitte Boisselier said. "She was born yesterday at 11:55 a.m."


Boisselier, who heads Clonaid, which is linked to a sect called the Raelians, would not give more details about the location or identity of the baby."


"She is fine," Boisselier said. "We call her Eve between us."


The Raelians, who claim 55,000 followers around the world, believe life on Earth was sparked by extraterrestrials who arrived 25,000 years ago and created humans through cloning. Founded by Claude Vorihon, who describes himself as a prophet and calls himself Rael, the group believes cloning could extend human life for hundreds of years.

Clonaid is viewed skeptically by most scientists, who doubt the group's technical ability to clone a human being. Though providing no proof at all today, Boisselier said independent experts will confirm the baby is a clone through DNA testing.


Cattle, mice, sheep and other animals have been cloned with mixed success. Some animals have displayed defects later in life. Scientists fear the same could happen with cloned humans.


Clonaid has been racing the Italian fertility doctor Severino Antinori to produce the first cloned baby. Antinori said last month he expected one of his patients to give birth to a cloned baby in January.
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eek: I believe this as much as I believe that Al Gore invented the internet. eek: