Panayiotis Zavos

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Panayiotis Michael Zavos (Greek: Παναγιώτης Ζαβός, or Panos Zavos, Πάνος Ζαβός) is a Greek Cypriot reproductive biologist from Cyprus. He is also an American citizen and lives in Lexington, Kentucky.

Dr. Panayiotis Zavos received his B.S. in Biology-Chemistry in 1970, his M.S. in Biology-Physiology in 1972 and Education Specialist in Science (Ed.S.) in 1976 from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He earned his Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology, Biochemistry and Statistics in 1978 from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Graduate Teaching Award from Emporia State University and the Student Leadership Award from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Zavos has a long career as a reproductive specialist and he has devoted more than 25 years to academia and research. He is the chief scientist in the development of several new and innovative technologies in the animal and human reproductive areas with worldwide implications. He has authored or coauthored more than 400 peer-review publications, along with a number of solicited reviews, book chapters and popular press releases. He has presented more than 300 abstracts and other presentations at a large number of national, international and professional scientific meetings all over the world. Dr. Zavos' studies and findings have been reported in the local, national and international press. He served as an ad hoc reviewer for the NIH and other scientific groups.

Dr. Zavos is currently serving as a Member of the International Advisory Commitee of the Middle East Fertility Society, and is a past Board Member of the China Academy of Science. He was awarded the first ever Honorary Professorship by the Chinese Academy of Science awarded to an American by Chinese Scientists. He is also currently on the Board of Scientific and Policy Advisors for the American Council on Science and Health. He has given plenary lectures nationally and internationally at a number of Scientific Societies meetings, has been and continues to be a visiting scientist for a number of international collaborations and exchanges.

Dr. Zavos has numerous scientific collaborations nationally and internationally and his publications have appeared in eight languages. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American Society of Andrology (ASA), the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the Middle East Fertility Society ( MEFS), the Japanese Fertility Society, the International Society of Cryobiology Sigma XI, Gamma Sigma Delta and a number of other Scientific and Professional Societies. He has served on a large number of committees for the International Society of Cryobiology, ASRM, MEFS, ESHRE and others.

Professor Zavos has received a great deal of media coverage both within the scientific and reproductive arena and the mainstream press for his many scientific accomplishments and pioneering ventures. He has made many television and radio appearances including: NPR Radio, 60 Minutes, Dateline NBC with Stone Phillips, The Connie Chung Show on CNN, Face the Nation, BBC World, ESPN, Tech TV, Nightline, Fox TV, World News Tonight, Good Morning America on ABC, The Early Show, CBS This Morning, CNN News, CNN, CNN International, Reuters, HBO, The View with Barbara Walters, National Geographic, Televisione svizzera (Swiss TV), Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Antena TV of Cyprus and Greece, Tokyo Broadcasting System International, NHK Television (Japan), Nippon Television of Japan, TV Asahi (Japan), ZDF TV (Germany), Deutsche Welle TV (Germany), Nine Network TV (Australia), National TV (Israel) and Live Talk with Sabine Christiansen (Germany).

Dr. Zavos is recognized worldwide as a leading researcher and a strong authority in the areas of male reproductive physiology, gamete physiology, male infertility, Andrology and other ART procedures including the development of in-vitro round spermatid manipulations (ROSI procedures). Dr. Zavos is also recognized as an international authority on smoking and its effects on human reproductive performance.


Contents

[edit] Cloning

Panayiotis Michael Zavos has made tremendous contributions to the areas of human cloning and stem cell research. He has delivered everything that he had promised when he made his announcement to the world in 2001. His publications have appeared in many peer-reviewed journals and show the seriousness of his accomplishments and can withstand the public scrutiny.

2001

Professor Zavos, Severino Antinori and Dr. Avi Ben-Abraham announce they are fully prepared to perform therapeutic human cloning.[1]

2002

Zavos declared the year 2002 as "the year of human clones".[2]

2003

On May 20, 2003 he announced the creation of a human clone, according to this [3]

2004

On January 17, 2004, from London, he announced [1] the creation and transfer of a cloned embryo, according to news reports [4] and [5]. During the announcement Zavos presented the first evidence of the creation and transfer of a human cloned embryo for reproductive purposes. Even though no pregnancy was established, human reproduction via SCNT is possible and applicable in the future for patients with severe male or female infertility that have no other alternative options for procreating their own offspring.[6]

[edit] Criticism

In both announcements he gave no satisfactory evidence. Other scientists doubt his claimed accomplishments but Zavos has published all of his works on this subject in peer reviewed Journals and the proof exists for those that wish to have it.

In 2002 Spyros Simitis, the brother of Costas Simitis, characterised Zavos's claims as "scientific barbarism". He expressed his opinion that if human cloning were to become reality, it would mean the "end of human freedom and evolution". He also referred to the possible use of cloning by governments for controlling and shaping society according to the government's will. It is obvious that when someone like Mr. Simitis, when reviews the facts could understand the difference between "scientific barbarism" and scientific accomplishment. [7], [8], [9]

Arthur Caplan, a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist who also testified before Congress: "I think he is the most dangerous of the current fringe proponents of cloning, because he knows more, stretches the facts and seems to be wallowing in a mix of publicity and fund-raising that rests on a foundation of hype."

[edit] Position on cloning ethics

Zavos notes that the Biblical injunction is "thou shall not kill" rather than "though shall not clone", and that the Bible does not explain or specify how humans should reproduce. He argues that any form of assisted reproduction (such as in vitro fertilization, or "IVF") is equally unnatural, but such methods are widely and successfully used today. According to Zavos, cloning can help a small percentage of childless couples to have biological children of their own "if they have exhausted all other means of assisted reproduction". Thus, cloning would further his belief that "all humans should have the right to have a child, the gift of life". He adds that all people have the right not to be cloned if cloning is against their ethics.

[edit] References

  1. ^ cloning : 100% extra
  2. ^ Zavos Being First
  3. ^ news in.gr - Αντιδράσεις προκαλεί η ανακοίνωση Ζαβού για τη δημιουργία ανθρώπινου εμβρυϊκού κλώνου
  4. ^ BBC NEWS | Health | Doctor 'implants cloned embryo'
  5. ^ news in.gr - Αμφιβολίες για το αληθές των ισχυρισμών Ζαβού περί εμφύτευσης κλωνοποιημένου εμβρύου
  6. ^ uaan150346 243..254
  7. ^ Zavos Human reproductive cloning: the time is near
  8. ^ doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.10.026
  9. ^ uaan150346 243..254

[edit] External links

News reports
Other links