Cloning: A Definition
With the recent technological advancement of cloning, a new batch of
questions has arisen. As with all new scientific accomplishments, parties look for
new applications, ask what harm the new product could cause, and wonder
whether the new technology should be improved upon or abandoned. "Cloning,"
as it has been dubbed, is "the practice of producing a genetically identical
duplicate of an organism by replacing the nucleus of an unfertilized ovum with the
nucleus of a body cell from the original organism." Common
misconceptions about cloning are seen in many movies. Examples of full grown
clones, people growing in vats, and quickly aging specimens are often seen. However, this
is not how the present cloning process is carried out. For now, artificial cloning
requires the use of host mothers. In the future, however, many of these Sci-fi
movie examples may be realized.
The Cloning Process
The actual "cloning process" is outlined as follows: First, a mammary cell is
extracted from the donor sheep and grown in a test tube. Meanwhile, another
sheep's unfertilized egg has had its nucleus removed. These two are fused
together, which causes the donor nucleus and the egg to develop into an embryo.
Next, the embryo is transferred into a surrogate mother sheep, where it divides
like a normal embryo, and grows naturally until it develops into a lamb genetically
identical to the donor sheep.
Ethics of Cloning
The creation of a being, and control over evolution raises many ethical
questions. For one, is cloning an animal for the use of medical harvesting (i.e.
organ growing and transplanting) ethical? Is the breeding of a bigger and meatier
cow equally right? These questions are debated upon by many different groups.
Religious groups argue that God created all, and he thrives on diversity. This
diversity is being threatened by cloning. Some also believe the process which
scientists use is murder. Because half of the nucleus used to make a normal
being is sucked out, and destroying the original DNA is murder. The half set of
DNA in the unfertilized egg cell IS destroyed, but suggesting that destroying a
mere unliving, unthinking chemical such as DNA is murder is ridiculous.
thousands of cells will die in your body as you're reading this, and their DNA will
be destroyed with them. Therefore does it follow that thousands of people are
perishing in your body every minute?
Clone Uses
Cloning, in its present use, is quite beneficial. It opens many opportunities for
both scientific and general population needs. Scientists can use the new cloning
techniques to make identical test subjects, thus reducing the amount of error in
animal tests. They can also protect endangered species
by cloning couples in captivity. Many can benefit from organ cloning, although
the process has not been perfected yet. Human ears have been reproduced on
mice, thus expanding the application of cloning. In the future, this genetic
mutation may save the lives of countless Americans, if animal cloning procedures
can make suitable hosts to grow human organs in. The possibilities are limitless.
Dangers of Cloning
Like any new invention, the cloning process has the possibility for wrongful
purpose. For instance, when a species is too much alike, the possibility of a
single disease wiping it out is very high. Overspecialize (as in cloning)
and you breed in weakness. However, "Are scientists in the agricultural of
pharmaceutical community really shortsighted enough to clone the diversity out of
domestic and lab animals, leaving them vulnerable to viruses, etc., or should we
give them credit for probably already having considered this?" On
the other hand, the scientists have no doubt already considered the
consequences of overbreeding in domestic (plants and) animals produced by the
traditional means as well as by cloning, but this has not prevented agriculture
from relying on a very few species for most of the world's food production. All of
this was, in actuality, happening before the "Age of Cloning," and it doesn't
change much in the way of agriculture.
Human Duplicates
Human cloning is another hot topic of debate. Many say cloning is unnatural,
and that people will abuse clone rights by making "organ factories." On the other hand, this cloning
technology doesn't open up a new potential for evil that we didn't already have.
Scientists (through gene manipulation and recessive breeding) have already
come up with batches of nearly identical lab mice specimens. These "new"
cloning procedures only open doors to the way of medicine and progress, not evil
planning. Some bring up possible scenarios of "ranches of human clones used
for organ donation," and other unlikely scenarios. They fail to realize that these
"clones," while identical to someone, still have to grow and develop like other
children. How could you take the liver of a clone that's been calling you mommy
for 15-20 years? Many also have misconceptions of "a whole team of Michael
Jordans." This is ludicrous; after all, they still are humans and have to go through
the entire life cycle. Perhaps the growing stages (childhood) would be different
for the clones, and they would never acquire the skills to play. The experiences
that make Jordan the player he is (with the drive and determination) do not carry
over in DNA. A clone of Michael Jordan might have some dominant gene for
athleticism, but who's to say he won't pick baseball or track as his sport?
Future of Cloning $
As the cloning debate continues, many get involved. Topics of funding, and
whether cloning should continue are discussed. Just recently, President Clinton
canceled the call for Federal funding of human cloning programs. "Clinton
conceded that cloning technology, applied to animals or human cells and proteins,
could reap tremendous benefits for science, agriculture and medicine. But,
echoing the ethical voices heard across the world since Dolly's debut, he
said he was deeply troubled by the idea of cloning human beings." Pres. Clinton has asked the National Bioethics Advisory Commission to
review the legal and ethical issues involved and to report it's finding within 90
days.
While the cloning advancements continue into new boundaries, they begin to
raise important ethical questions. Where cloning processes can make scientific
wonders possible, they also have the possibility for harm. These evils have been
well thought over, and the positive far outweigh the negative.
You may contact the author by 