To Clone, or Not to Clone?
Human cloning, a once impossibility in biological studies, is now surfacing as the next step into the future. According to Katrien Devolder, a founding member of the Bioethics institute of Ghent, human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. The word cloning implies the somatic cell nuclear transfer, a technique that removes the genetic material of a somatic cell and places it into an oocyte that is later treated with an electric current to stimulate cell divisions. Although this technique has never been performed on humans before, animal cloning research and experiments have been taking place for more than a decade. The first successfully cloned mammal, Dolly, a female sheep was almost …show more content…
Although Dolly lived a pampered life in the Rosaline institution and mated naturally, she was euthanized at the age of six and a half due arthritis in a hind leg joint, sheep pulmonary adenomatosis, with addition to shorter chromosomes that caused premature aging. (“Cloning Dolly the Sheep,” 2016) After Dolly’s death other successful cloning experimentations on various specious took place. These species included cats, coyotes, deer, dogs, mice, and rabbits. Although some would say that cloning has many benefits, majority would agree that it poses serious medical and social risks. Human cloning can give rise to many medical issues and put the cloned infant at the risk of major defects and diseases. Secondly, it can tamper with society in terms of equality, and the value of individuality and human life. Lastly, it can increase crimes and take cloned humans’ natural rights away. Moreover, human cloning is ethically problematic as it presents a vast number of major problems that …show more content…
The cloning process is very risky for everyone participating in it, specifically the child clone. Results from past experiments show that, “the success rate of past animal cloning experiments are .1% to 3%, meaning that for every 1000 tries only 1 to 30 clones are made” (“What Are the Risks,” 2016). According to the book, Human Cloning and Human Dignity chapter 5, section II by The President’s Council on Bioethics, These clones could suffer many abnormalities at birth, such as a substantially increased birth size, liver and brain defects, lung, kidney and cardiovascular problems, immune system failure and sudden unexplained deaths. Many cloned children will lead hospital, medication, and surgery filled lives and experience excruciating pain (The president’s, 2002). Therefore, it is clearly evident that the cloning process is far too risky to attempt on humans. Secondly, with cloning of the same characteristics, over time the human gene pool will diminish in size causing disastrous effects on human survivorship. Populations with small gene pools are at a greater risk of extinction than populations with larger gene pools. This is because having two or more genes in a population allows greater flexibility in dealing with the environment and fighting off diseases (“Extinction and small populations,” 2016). For this reason it is necessary for humans to have a large gene pool
Human cloning, a once impossibility in biological studies, is now surfacing as the next step into the future. According to Katrien Devolder, a founding member of the Bioethics institute of Ghent, human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. The word cloning implies the somatic cell nuclear transfer, a technique that removes the genetic material of a somatic cell and places it into an oocyte that is later treated with an electric current to stimulate cell divisions. Although this technique has never been performed on humans before, animal cloning research and experiments have been taking place for more than a decade. The first successfully cloned mammal, Dolly, a female sheep was almost …show more content…
Although Dolly lived a pampered life in the Rosaline institution and mated naturally, she was euthanized at the age of six and a half due arthritis in a hind leg joint, sheep pulmonary adenomatosis, with addition to shorter chromosomes that caused premature aging. (“Cloning Dolly the Sheep,” 2016) After Dolly’s death other successful cloning experimentations on various specious took place. These species included cats, coyotes, deer, dogs, mice, and rabbits. Although some would say that cloning has many benefits, majority would agree that it poses serious medical and social risks. Human cloning can give rise to many medical issues and put the cloned infant at the risk of major defects and diseases. Secondly, it can tamper with society in terms of equality, and the value of individuality and human life. Lastly, it can increase crimes and take cloned humans’ natural rights away. Moreover, human cloning is ethically problematic as it presents a vast number of major problems that …show more content…
The cloning process is very risky for everyone participating in it, specifically the child clone. Results from past experiments show that, “the success rate of past animal cloning experiments are .1% to 3%, meaning that for every 1000 tries only 1 to 30 clones are made” (“What Are the Risks,” 2016). According to the book, Human Cloning and Human Dignity chapter 5, section II by The President’s Council on Bioethics, These clones could suffer many abnormalities at birth, such as a substantially increased birth size, liver and brain defects, lung, kidney and cardiovascular problems, immune system failure and sudden unexplained deaths. Many cloned children will lead hospital, medication, and surgery filled lives and experience excruciating pain (The president’s, 2002). Therefore, it is clearly evident that the cloning process is far too risky to attempt on humans. Secondly, with cloning of the same characteristics, over time the human gene pool will diminish in size causing disastrous effects on human survivorship. Populations with small gene pools are at a greater risk of extinction than populations with larger gene pools. This is because having two or more genes in a population allows greater flexibility in dealing with the environment and fighting off diseases (“Extinction and small populations,” 2016). For this reason it is necessary for humans to have a large gene pool