Brigitte Boisselier
Encyclopedia
Brigitte Boisselier is the head of Clonaid
, the "scientific wing" of the Raëlians. She has been a Raëlian since 1992 and primarily known for claiming that the company, run by church members, was the first organization to clone a full human being in the early 2000s. However, this claim was never backed up by any kind of evidence and was generally believed, as it is today, to be purely a publicity stunt.
On December 27, 2002, Boisselier, a Raëlian bishop and CEO of Clonaid, stated to the press that Clonaid had successfully given birth to a cloned human being the previous day. Boisselier said that the mother delivered by Caesarean section
somewhere outside the United States
, and that both the mother and the little girl, Eve, were healthy. Boisselier did not present the mother or child, or DNA
samples that could be used to confirm her claim at the press conference, although she did explain the procedure which she intended to use to confirm her claims. It has subsequently become apparent that the announcement was made prior to genetic testing to evaluate whether the child in question was actually a clone: Boisselier was therefore stating her belief that her procedure had resulted in a clone, not announcing results showing that the child was a clone.
On January 2, 2003, Boisselier told a French television audience that the American
parents of the supposed clone are balking at providing DNA evidence to prove that their baby is really a clone. The parents are assertedly afraid that the state of Florida
will try to take the baby away from them.
On January 4, 2003, Boisselier announced the birth of another cloned baby to a Dutch lesbian couple and stated that there would be four other cloned babies delivered by February 2003.
She holds a master's degree in biochemistry, a Ph. D in physical chemistry from the University of Dijon in France and another Ph. D in analytical chemistry from the University of Houston in the United States under the guidance of Prof. Karl Kadish.
She is currently married to Ricky Lee Roehr. The name Brigitte Roehr appears as the author's name on most Raëlian Contact newsletter issues since issue #279.
Clonaid
Clonaid is a human cloning company founded in 1997. It has philosophical ties with the Raëlian sect, which sees cloning as the first step in achieving immortality. On December 27, 2002, Clonaid's chief executive, Brigitte Boisselier, claimed that a baby clone, named Eve, was born. Media coverage of...
, the "scientific wing" of the Raëlians. She has been a Raëlian since 1992 and primarily known for claiming that the company, run by church members, was the first organization to clone a full human being in the early 2000s. However, this claim was never backed up by any kind of evidence and was generally believed, as it is today, to be purely a publicity stunt.
Life
Brigitte Boisselier served as a visiting chemistry professor at Hamilton College, resigning in April, 2001, during the first year of a three-year appointment.On December 27, 2002, Boisselier, a Raëlian bishop and CEO of Clonaid, stated to the press that Clonaid had successfully given birth to a cloned human being the previous day. Boisselier said that the mother delivered by Caesarean section
Caesarean section
A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus...
somewhere outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and that both the mother and the little girl, Eve, were healthy. Boisselier did not present the mother or child, or DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
samples that could be used to confirm her claim at the press conference, although she did explain the procedure which she intended to use to confirm her claims. It has subsequently become apparent that the announcement was made prior to genetic testing to evaluate whether the child in question was actually a clone: Boisselier was therefore stating her belief that her procedure had resulted in a clone, not announcing results showing that the child was a clone.
On January 2, 2003, Boisselier told a French television audience that the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
parents of the supposed clone are balking at providing DNA evidence to prove that their baby is really a clone. The parents are assertedly afraid that the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
will try to take the baby away from them.
On January 4, 2003, Boisselier announced the birth of another cloned baby to a Dutch lesbian couple and stated that there would be four other cloned babies delivered by February 2003.
She holds a master's degree in biochemistry, a Ph. D in physical chemistry from the University of Dijon in France and another Ph. D in analytical chemistry from the University of Houston in the United States under the guidance of Prof. Karl Kadish.
She is currently married to Ricky Lee Roehr. The name Brigitte Roehr appears as the author's name on most Raëlian Contact newsletter issues since issue #279.
External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2643445.stm - Profile of Boisselier by the BBC