Ethics Of Cloning Research Paper
Cloning Morality Cloning is the process of recreating a genetic copy of an entire organism or sequence of DNA. Genetic clones occur naturally in asexual reproduction and in the birth of identical twins. Clones can also be produced artificially from a number of processes including gene cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning. The University of Utah health science department tells us that the scientific history of artificial cloning spans more than one hundred years. (Genetic Science Learning Center) Throughout this time several positive scientific advancements have been accomplished spanning from artificial embryo twinning of a sea urchin by Hans Adolf Eduard Driesch in 1885, all the way to the successful creation of human embryonic
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With such a quick development in the processes of artificial cloning scientists have developed a limited knowledge of the subcellular and molecular levels in the different techniques and therefor rise a huge safety concern. Having a limited working knowledge about the cloning processes has had such a significant impact in the success of artificial cloning that less than one percent of all attempts are successful. (Bruner) Due to artificial cloning being so difficult to accomplish and the process being such a high risk procedure, artificial cloning involves a very high rate of abortions and still births. In the small percentage of successful clones there is an extremely low chance of creating a normal clone. One of the developmental abnormalities that is common in artificial cloning is premature aging. This premature aging is believed to be caused by the donation of DNA with shortened telomeres. The shortening of telomeres in a cell’s DNA are caused by aging. When a telomere reaches its minimal length the cell then dies, essentially beginning the clone’s cell life at the age of the donor cell. It is errors in the genetic program such as this that is causing the young death in artificial clones. The many developmental risks and the extremely low success rate create the greatest safety concerns for an artificial clone. Subjecting an individual to these conditions becomes a moral concern on whether or not someone should be placed in that situation against his or her own will. Along with the concerns for safety with the artificial clone are also the safety concerns of the surrogate carrying the clone. Studies have been made showing the possible development problems with the individual carrying the
With such a quick development in the processes of artificial cloning scientists have developed a limited knowledge of the subcellular and molecular levels in the different techniques and therefor rise a huge safety concern. Having a limited working knowledge about the cloning processes has had such a significant impact in the success of artificial cloning that less than one percent of all attempts are successful. (Bruner) Due to artificial cloning being so difficult to accomplish and the process being such a high risk procedure, artificial cloning involves a very high rate of abortions and still births. In the small percentage of successful clones there is an extremely low chance of creating a normal clone. One of the developmental abnormalities that is common in artificial cloning is premature aging. This premature aging is believed to be caused by the donation of DNA with shortened telomeres. The shortening of telomeres in a cell’s DNA are caused by aging. When a telomere reaches its minimal length the cell then dies, essentially beginning the clone’s cell life at the age of the donor cell. It is errors in the genetic program such as this that is causing the young death in artificial clones. The many developmental risks and the extremely low success rate create the greatest safety concerns for an artificial clone. Subjecting an individual to these conditions becomes a moral concern on whether or not someone should be placed in that situation against his or her own will. Along with the concerns for safety with the artificial clone are also the safety concerns of the surrogate carrying the clone. Studies have been made showing the possible development problems with the individual carrying the