Human Cloning

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Human Cloning

There are many opinions on the topic of cloning, particularly on the controversy of human cloning. Lots of people have many fears over if we should continue this form of study, whereas others think that this technology should be pushed forward with high hopes. However, no side should rule out the other, but instead, should compliment one another. Both arguments should be heard and acknowledged before any decision is made towards this new area of study. For example, many people think that their fears are unanswerable and should cause the absolute ban on cloning.

Although many scientists are in the field of cloning, many other people have scientific reasons why this shouldn’t happen. One reason is that if a human clone were ever successfully made, it wouldn’t be an exact clone anyway; Einstein wasn’t smart solely because of his genes, but the environment that he was surrounded by. However, a positive side to this is that since another exact copy wouldn’t be made, another Hitler could also not be created, as many may fear. In fact, twins are closer to one another that any clone that could be made because of a seemingly special bond created during pregnancy. New techniques are also feared, such as with Dolly.

Another group of reasons concern Dolly. Originally an attempt at creating a sheep that produced a special quality of milk, Dolly was created from a group led by Dr. Ian Wilmut at the Roslin Institute in Scotland on July 5, 1996. They used a different method for mammals than used previously by starving the pre-cloned cells into hibernation, and then using nuclear transfer (copying the nucleus of the cell). Some say that if we continue with cloning, it would be extremely risky, because it is known that it took 277 tries to create Dolly. However, bans have been made to prohibit public uses of cloning. It is also known that Dolly was born with short telomeres.

Telomeres power the successful reproduction and division of cells, and are found in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of genes found in chromosomes. When she was tested, it was discovered that her telomeres were shorter than other non-cloned sheep her age. However, scientists say that this mistake could be useful for treatment of cancer. By giving cancer cells in the body short telomeres and putting them back into the body, other cancer cells would be infected, and would die qui...

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...ning should not happen if it endangers any living being or if it causes loss of respect for the lives of humans and animals. This new technology has the power to do some very serious damage to mankind. On the other hand, the positive possibilities are staggering, and with the correct precautions, cloning will become a very powerful force in the scientific world as you know it.

Bibliography:

“Cloned Baby of Dead son in the Works.” The Province 18 Feb. 2001: A p.37.

“Cloned DNA a Cure for Rare Immune.” The Vancouver Sun 23 Dec. 1998: B p.6.

Cloning. (Online). Available http://members.tripod.com/~cloning/intro.htm, March 15, 2001.

History of Cloning. (Online). Available http://vparker.home.texas.net/Thinkquest/Manipulating/Experimentation/Cloning/longdoc.htm, March 15, 2001.

Hyde, Margaret O., and Lawrence E. Hyde. Cloning and the new Genetics. U.S.: Enslow, 1984.

Jeffens, David. Cloning: Frontiers of Genetic Engineering. Ontario: Megatech, 1999.

“Monkeys Cloned in Oregon.” The Province 3 Mar. 1997: A p.13.

“More ORE. Cloned Monkeys on Way.” The Province 4 Mar. 1997: A p.18.

Pollack, Robert. “Beyond Cloning.” The New York Times 17 Nov. 1993: A p.27.

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