Ever since the birth of the first cloned sheep, named Dolly, the dream of human cloning has existed (Van Dijck, 1999). Cloning a mammal is described as the manipulation of an animal or human cell in order to create an identical copy of that animal’s or human’s nucleic DNA (Andrews, 1997). Though the dream of a human clone also comes with a lot of controversy regarding ethics and morals. Embryotic stem cell research, which could lead to a renewable source of human tissue, cells and eventually entire organs (Bowring, 2004), is highly controversial due to the necessity of placing a cloned embryo into a woman’s body in order to achieve that research. Politicians differentiate between therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning as they refer to the second as “implanting a cloned embryo in a woman's womb” (Bowring, 2004), as for the embryo itself the research is not very therapeutic. Furthermore cloning by transfer of nuclei is not very effective yet as only 1% of manipulated sheep eggs reach adulthood and the number is even lower for other animals (Solter, 2000). The question whether human cloning will ever be possible and ethical remains to be answered but it seems certain that extra research in embryotic stem cells will improve techniques and success rates, which eventually brings the realization of a human clone closer one step at a time.…
Cloning is a procedure conceived to notion in the late 1960s, but it is only recently that it was fully understood and that scientists have started to figure out how to successfully copy the genetic composition of one organism to another. Since science already knows how to do this, the only problems and obstacles that remains is efficiency and the success ratio of each operation. The cloning process consists of taking the nucleus of an organism, and placing it, along with the DNA that contains all the genetic material, in place of the nucleus of the host egg. The egg then forms an embryo and matures into the same exact "copy", at least genetically, as the original organism. Already done on mammals, cloning is something that can be extended to utilize humans as subjects. In the future it will be wholly possible to create human clones to serve whatever purpose they were conceived for. However, presently there are numerous ethical issues surrounding cloning and there are problems about the implications of the use of cloning for the purpose of medicine. This issue plagues us so much that the constant objections of bioethicists and political and religious leaders have caused the US Government to propose a ban on all research concerning human cloning until a conclusion is reached on the moral and ethical aspects of the process. (Macer, 2)…
One major issue in regards to the cloning debate is the conjoining of the two separate types of cloning. The public sees cloning as the creation of a belated twin, which actually only describes reproductive cloning. When most people think about cloning they picture a mad scientist creating faux people in some dank, secret laboratory. In reality, this is about as far from the truth as one can get. Medical science is very far from creating actual people. However, we are much closer to discovering the necessary technology for producing cells and tissue samples essential for the treating, and possibly curing, of many debilitating diseases.…
“20 Years after Dolly the Sheep Led the Way-Where Is Cloning Now?” by Karen Weintraub talks about the technology advances in cloning and how they can be used today. Weintraub discusses the benefits and dangers to cloning. Weintraub provides quotes from significant people throughout the article, in order to shed light on topic within cloning. She also provides information and opinions about each topic. Because of these factors Weintraub appears to be a credible unbiased author, that is capable of providing enough facts for the audience to form their own opinion.…
Reproductive cloning on the other hand won’t be good as well. In the article's reproductive cloning arguments pro and con it is mentioned that “Reproductive cloning would diminish the uniqueness of an individual.” Reproducing a child is the most beautiful moment you can experience. Mostly because your partner (that you love) and you have created a human being that won’t look similar to any other person. Cloning yourself to have a “child” will ruin the perspective of bearing or raising an actual kid. Having a clone as your “child” wouldn’t be a great idea. Hhaving a kid is a major difference than having a kid that looks exactly like you in every way. Those who can’t bear children because of multiple reasons have the opportunity to adopt a child. Why want more when you can get a kid without going through so much…
Though many people dismiss the idea of cloning as a way of destroying nature’s diversity, cloning techniques can potentially become life savers for many. The ability to clone will allow scientists to duplicate new, needed organs for patients thanks to therapeutic cloning. Endangered animals will be able to become striving species overtime due to reproductive cloning. Infertile women will once again be granted the gift of giving birth, all creditable to reproductive cloning.…
For many years, scientists have been experimenting in the field of cloning. Cloning uses an egg cell and a somatic cell to make a duplicate copy of the organism. It is currently a highly controversial topic in the scientific world. Many people can benefit from cloning. From farmers to patients, not only does cloning help scientists discover more about genetics, it will also help a lot of people. However, there are also ethical issues with cloning, such as the use of embryonic stem cells and cross-species hybrids. For instance, at the Salk institute, a human-pig embryo was recently made and destroyed. The purpose of the experiment was to see if human organs could be grown inside a pig. The authors believe that we are still far off from accomplishing cloning of human organs in animals. I believe that cloning will help this world, but there needs to be restrictions on human cloning and cross-breeding.…
What was once thought to be the content of fiction novels and comic books is now being fully explored and realized in the cutting edge world of modern science. Scientists now possess the necessary capabilities and technology to make the process of human cloning a reality. While this is a controversial and rather sensitive topic, cloning is an innovative practice that has the potential to vastly improve the lives of unlimited amounts of people. Although cloning may prove to be a useful remedy for many of today’s issues, there are those in the scientific and medical fields who remain vehemently opposed to its practice. It is for this reason that lawmakers, scientists, and doctors around the world are currently locked in a fierce standoff that will determine what if any, impact that cloning will have upon our ever-changing society. Each side has compiled substantial evidence against the other as to why cloning should or should not be legalized and practiced. It is my strong belief that the curative effects that could be reaped by practicing cloning far outweigh the arguments of anti-cloning advocates; the practice of human cloning should be legalized and practiced. Countless individuals could benefit from its various applications and the future of medicine would be drastically enhanced.…
When people think of cloning they pay attention to the fact of how immoral it can be, but you have to look beyond that to see how much we could gain from cloning as a species.…
Thousands of people each year die because of organ shortages. Cloning human organs can eliminate this epidemic. If organs can be specially made for each individual who needs one, organ transplant waiting lists can be eliminated. “...An average of 18 people die each day waiting for transplants that can 't take place because of the shortage of donated organs”(“The Need Is Real: Data”). These deaths can be prevented by cloning. However, many people believe that cloning is very unethical and goes against religion. This hinders the formation of cloning and holds back scientists from imperative research. The lack of support given by the people for cloning research impedes government and local funding and aid. The delay in funding and aid creates a rift in research. Many people support biomedical technology and cloning, but only to a certain extent. Most religious people are concerned about cloning because they believe that only God has the right to give and take life in any form. In reality, fear and the lack of knowledge inhibit many religious and ethical people from supporting the idea of cloning. “If we hope to direct the course of this powerful technology, we should strive to learn as much as we can about these molecular tools and then let scientists and corporations know our wishes. Only then can we truly expect to avoid the risks and enjoy the…
74% of americans want to put research into therapeutic cloning, so researchers can study more about it. If we had therapeutic cloning then we would find cures for diseases like leukemia, parkinson's disease, cancer, heart attacks, alzheimer's, cosmetic surgery, diabetes, and many more. If therapeutic cloning using embryos is a success than with finding new cures we would save countless of lives and increase the life of countless others. Like for diabetes would use insulin secreting, and nerve cells in stroke for parkinson’s disease. With further advances in understanding of how organs regenerate it would increase the possible treatments that could be…
Cloning has many promises but isn't all it's said to be. It has been the talk of the scientific world since the sheep they call Dolly was introduced to the world as the first mammal ever to be cloned. Excitement grew into the desire to create human life. Organ regeneration, advanced cosmetics, and the chance to have children were promised by scientists. After all, modern science created a sheep. Why can't it create a human? Because it would take about 300 tries to produce a healthy baby. What most people…
Thesis Statement: Although human cloning is a scientific discovery of great significance which is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human it has some medical advantages; however, it raises high debates because of its religious, ethical, and scientific disadvantages.…
With the announcement that a research facility in England had successfully cloned a sheep, many groups worldwide such as doctors, politicians, religious members etc. Have been battling with the question – Should the research of cloning be taken further? Many doctors believe that cloning is an advancement to help save more lives although specific organs or blood types have yet to be cloned and actually made available to the general medical community. Think about it. If someone desperately needed a liver transplant, with the aid of cloning technology, doctors would be able to clone that persons liver cells and produce a healthy, genetically matched liver thus saving that person’s life. In a way cloning could revolutionise the medical industry.…
The subject of human cloning is a very controversial topic. The cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1997 by scientist Ian Wilmut generated a very unexpected reaction around the world. However these reactions were not all positive. Cloning refers to the development of offspring that are identical to their parents genetically. While it is referred to as an unnatural process, it can occur quite often in nature. Identical twins, for example, are clones. However, human cloning is very new and very complex. In this essay I will examine both sides of the argument into the banning of cloning starting with reasons why cloning should not be banned.…