Until 1996, the thought of animal cloning drifted around a few research laboratories as a theoretical concept. Dolly changed all that in 1996. Since then, scientists, politicians, philosophers, and the public have been debating the ethical consequences of animal cloning . Dolly the sheep, was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell. Although animal cloning is increasing there is still debate whether it is ethical or not.
The ethical dilemma of cloning animals falls under the category of cruelty and abuse. This is not stating that cloning animals is cruel and abusive but simply that it could be. Some people say it is not ethical to clone animals if they will suffer excessively, but if the cloning-related disease is mild or controllable, then the experiments should continue. What we see as an unethical process now may only be an object of cloning’s current state of development. In the future, after technology improves, cloned animals will be as healthy as naturally conceived animals, and then the ethical problem will disappear. They will become, in effect, just other farm animals, no better off, yet no worse either.
Animal Cloning can offer a major advantage to farmers. Especially the ones who rely on the meat and dairy products to make a living. They can take their biggest and healthiest animals and clone them for more products. With cloning it is possible to predict the characteristics of each animal. Animal cloning also allows farmers to have complete control over a baby’s inherited traits. This overcomes the unpredictability of conventional breeding. With animal cloning breeders can make multiple copies of their best animals.