Along with the many great discoveries being made in the field of genetics, many controversies are also accompanying these discoveries. One branch of genetic research that shrouded in mystery is the ever-growing field of genetic cloning; reproductive cloning being one that contains a great deal of interest. This field of research is highly controversial, as one would expect. One side of the argument is that this will allow for us to stop species from going extinct or bring back extinct species, while the other side argues that this could be a gate-way to human cloning.
The first successful animal cloning using the new technology of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) resulted in the creation of a sheep named Dolly. Dolly was created from the DNA of a six year old female sheep. (Human Cloning). After as many as 276 failed trials, Dolly was finally created. However, Dolly did not live to undergo natural aging. She came down with diseases that would only be found in older sheep and eventually died at the age of six. (Animal Cloning). There was another instance when a death more tragic than Dolly’s occurred. In 2003, scientists successfully cloned a bucardo, which is an extinct species of mountain goat. Scientists succeeded after many trials but when the baby bucardo was finally born, it died a miserable death. It had a massive lump in its lungs and died just 10 minutes after coming into this world. (Mark 2013). After reading of such unfortunate events, the decision of whether or not cloning should be allowed becomes very clear. The decision I have reached is a no, that cloning should never be allowed. It is already terrible enough that animals have to go through such pains, but if the same cruel fate were to befall a human being, it...
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...e to stop one from cloning others without their permission; considering humans continue to shed skin cells and many other strange things everywhere they go. Therefore, as cloning takes away the originality from creations of nature, it should never be allowed to be implemented.
Works Cited
"Animal Cloning." Biotechnology: Changing Life Through Science. Detroit: U*X*L, 2012. Science in Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
"Human Cloning." Biotechnology: Changing Life Through Science. Detroit: U*X*L, 2012. Science in Context. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
Mark, Jason. "Back from the dead." Earth Island Journal Autumn 2013: 30+. Science in Context. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
Talion, Beverley. “Awards Celebrate Equality Victory.” Beaver 89.5 (2009): 12. History Reference Center. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
Smith, Ian."Being double." Men's Health July-Aug. 2004: 100. Psychology Collection. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
In the summer of 1996, an animal unlike any other was born unto the world. Roughly three feet high and covered in an insulating material, there were countless others that looked nearly identical freely roaming the countryside. But this animal was special; it was precisely identical to one of its brethren. Dolly the sheep was the first ever manmade clone, an exact copy of its genetic donor. In the fifteen years since the birth of Dolly cloning technology has been improving at a steady pace, and now humanity as a whole is at an impasse: human clones. Scientists are very close to being able to clone a human being, but should they? A ban on human cloning issued by the World Health Organization is in place (World Health Organization 1) but it is non-binding in nature, and individual governments must come up with their own cloning policies. For the United States, the choice is obvious: the federal government should not place a ban on human reproductive cloning. There are numerous reasons for this, such as the notion of cloning as an alternative to adoption, the elimination of disease, the possibility of continuing life after death, and the possibility of an improved quality of life for the clones themselves. At the same time, there are arguments against human cloning, mostly centering on moral issues, that must also be addressed.
“Cloning represents a very clear, powerful, and immediate example in which we are in danger of turning procreation into manufacture.” (Kass) The concept of cloning continues to evoke debate, raising extensive ethical and moral controversy. As humans delve into the fields of science and technology, cloning, although once considered infeasible, could now become a reality. Although many see this advancement as the perfect solution to our modern dilemmas, from offering a potential cure for cancer, AIDS, and other irremediable diseases, its effects are easily forgotten. Cloning, especially when concerning humans, is not the direction we must pursue in enhancing our lives. It is impossible for us to predict its effects, it exhausts monetary funds, and it harshly abases humanity.
Gibbs, Nancy. “Abducting the Cloning Debate” Time. Jan 2003. vol. 161 issue 2. p46. web. 4 Apr. 2011
Throughout time, human and animal cloning has developed into a new important technology in everyday lives without always knowing it. Cloning is the process of copying or duplicating an organism. Human and animal cloning has so many different outcomes and uncertainties. It can be used for many different purposes, depending on what someone wants to use it for. People all around the world have different views on cloning. Some are against it and some are for it. However, not everyone fully understands how cloning works. Human and animal cloning will determine our future. It can improve or maybe even destroy mankind. Cloning is very important to the world because it can lead to new developments later on in the world that have not yet been thought of.
Herbert, Wray. The World After Cloning. U.S. News and World Report. March 10, 1997: 59-64.
...ly praised, but science that interferes with the creation of human life is seen by many as entirely different. People are still unsure as to whether or not and to what extent scientists should be involved in such a realm. This is, in fact, the prevailing view. Consequently, the field of human cloning has been shaped by these attitudes. At present, human cloning both nationally and internationally is essentially an unacceptable practice. Whether scientists such as Richard Seed will be successful remains to be seen, but the consensus seems to be that the world is not yet ready for full-blown human cloning. Accordingly, efforts have been made to impede the scientific process and to push human cloning into the distant future.
Stephens, Patrick. ?Human Cloning is Good for All of Us,? The Objectivist Center. April 3, 2001.
Cloning, a topic that has recently caused mayhem all over the world, is possible, but will it be here to stay? The astonishing news that scientists had cloned a sheep a couple of years ago sent people into panic at the thought that humans might be next. "Cloning is a radical challenge to the most fundamental laws of biology, so it's not unreasonable to be concerned that it might threaten human society and dignity" (Macklin 64). Since most of the opposition is coming from the pure disgust of actually being able to clone species, it makes it difficult for people to get away from the emotional side of the issue and analyze the major implications cloning would have for society. To better understand this controversial issue, the pros and cons of cloning will be discussed.
A growing controversy in the world today is cloning. One stance is that cloning and cloning research should be banned altogether. Another position is in support of no restrictions of cloning and that scientists should be able to test on animals if they deem it necessary. Many other views are squeezed into different gray areas on the topic. It would be beneficial to explore the methods, benefits, moral and ethical conflicts involved with human cloning to fully understand the pros of cloning. The methods of human cloning and the research that accompanies them can provide a great deal of benefits. The benefits of human cloning include important medical breakthroughs, reproduction, and morality issues.
In conclusion, the thesis of this paper is supported by three contentions. First, if successful, cloning can have a lot of positive technological advancements that would help humanity. Second, Dolly, the first cloned mammal, inspired many scientists to speculate a new era in cloning technology and raise hopes for future probability in which human cloning was possible. Finally, at the center of the controversy, surges the closest thing to a clone that lives a healthy and regular life, identical twins. The promise of cloning at any level can revolutionize the world, and change it for the better, but are we are not ready for human trials. The failure rate is overwhelming; we should master cloning animals with close to 100% success rate before starting human cloning trials.
Cloning has come very far through science within the last few decades. Although it is a natural part of the world, scientists have taken a simple idea and expanded it further then what was thought possible. Though cloning faces many challenges, scientists such as Dr. Richard Seed continue their research in perfecting cloning in order to benefit the world. Cloning, a controversial topic thought to do harm, but simply misunderstood. The fact is, cloning could improve life more than what can be comprehended or as Dr. Richard Seed said, cloning will be taking “humanity one step closer to God.”
Although cloned animals are generally created with good intentions and for research, there many precautions and doubts that limit the use of cloning techniques. Many uncertain factors that affiliate with cloning deters people from understanding the greater benefits. There has always been a fear of technological advancements, as cloning has a bad reputation. People wonder if we should invest a lot of money into cloning since it is very expensive and has a low success rate and low life expectancy of the animal to make traditional clones. Cloning and genetically modified animals currently do not have policies to prote...
Cloning, specifically cloning humans, can be a very beneficial field of research. The science in embryonic cloning has progressed a long way since the release of therapeutic cloning practices and the birth of cloned organism. The processes opens new opportunities in the fields of medicine, scientific research, and has several uses in the future when there are more advanced practices that are even more efficient and safer with fewer restrictions. None of these ideas are very far fetched, cloning can be a great thing in mere years.
1) Robertson, John A. “Human Cloning and the Challenge of Regulation,” The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 339, no. 2 (July 9, 1998), pp. 119-122.
Cloning is the process of replicating organism’s genes into one or many identical copies of itself. For hundreds of years, genetic scientists have been studying and experimenting with this idea. Cloning is still a new procedure and has a lot of controversies. Some scientists prophesize that cloning will make the world a better place due to the many applications of cloning that would benefit the world. Other scientists are concerned about the long-term effects it may have to spark the question, “is it worth it”. Cloning has been successful in many cases for animals and plants but the idea of cloning humans is something still farfetched for modern technology. In this report I will be covering how cloning started, the process in which