Human Cloning: Genetic Advancement or Genetic Manipulation?
Some people might argue that the real offense would be to hinder the progress of science and experimental investigation with regard to human cloning. That to do so would mean to deny the right to scientifically explore and gain from such. Exploration and discovery in advanced technologies and science quite often proves to be beneficial to mankind; however, even though human cloning capabilities may tempt man's inherently diabolical God-playing nature, research, advancement and the expected benefits of human cloning are likely to dispel predicted human catastrophes. In the alternative, can advances in human cloning lead us into genetic manipulation and world chaos because of popular myths about cloning and the rapid progress in biotechnology?
First, what exactly is cloning? In biology, cloning is used in two contexts: cloning a gene, or cloning an organism. Cloning is the reproduction of a human or animal whose genetic substance is identical to an existing being, such as an embryo or fetus. This is reproductive. Cloning a gene means to extract a gene from one organism and insert it into a second organism. Cloning an organism means to create a new organism with the same genetic information as an existing one. This is therapeutic.
Since 1885, there have been a number of researchers, scientists, geneticists, reproductive technologists and embryologists, such as August Weismann, Hans Spemann, Walter Sutton, Paul Berg, Steen Willadsen, et al., who have contributed much to the research and development of our current concepts of cloning. Particularly two of the more recent renowned contributors to cloning research and experimentation are Ian Wilmut, a Ph. D. in animal genetic engineering, and Richard Seed, who founded Fertility and Genetics in the 1980s.
In 1973, for his thesis at Darwin College, Ian Wilmut created the first calf ever produced from a frozen embryo. In 1974, Ian Wilmut joined a research institute known as the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Today, he is currently joint head of the Department of Gene Expression and Development, with research interests in early mammalian development, embryo manipulation, nuclear transfer and gene targeting in mice, cattle, sheep and pigs.
The Roslin Institute, is known for being one of the world's primary research centers on farm and other animals. In 1996, Professor Wilmut, along with his assistant, Keith Campbell, made history by creating the first organism to be duplicated (cloned) from adult cells. Their creation infamously became known as Dolly, the first cloned adult sheep.
Johnson, K. C., & Daviss, B. A. (2005). Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. Bmj, 330(7505), 1416.
The United States Constitution has received much criticism, both before and after its ratification in 1789. A wide array of thinkers from across the ages of the republic have offered criticisms about the nature, scope, and even fine details of the Constitution, sometimes providing solutions they think better themselves. Truly, however, two major schools of criticisms arise: those condemning the implications of having a document like the Constitution supreme over the nation, and those condemning specific parts and clauses of the document itself. Both criticisms based on the view that the Constitution is pro-slavery and those arguing against the nationalist nature of the document are unfounded.
While being an American offers numerous benefits, it also brings with it certain imperative responsibilities. It is your duty to demonstrate your commitment to your country
...o find a balance between interventional and non-interventional birth. With this being said, I also understand that there are strict policies and protocols set in place, which I must abide to as a healthcare provider, in any birth setting. Unfortunately, these guidelines can be abused. Christiane Northrup, MD, a well recognized and respected obstetrician-gynecologist has gone as far as to tell her own daughters that they should not give birth in a hospital setting, with the safest place being home (Block, 2007, p. xxiii). Although I am not entirely against hospital births, I am a firm believe that normal, healthy pregnancies should be fully permissible to all midwives. However, high-risk pregnancies and births must remain the responsibility of skilled obstetricians. My heart’s desire is to do what is ultimately in the best interest of the mother, and her unborn child.
There has been a long standing turf war Between obstetricians and midwives, but this article explains for that might be coming to an end. Britian’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence discovered that it is safer for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies to give birth at home with the supervision of midwives. Studies have shown that doctors are much more like to use interventions such as forceps, spinal anesthesia and cesarean section, when unnecessary and those procedure carry risks of inaction and surgical accidents. Many studies have shown that midwives provide care just as well or even better than obstetricians, when mothers are expected to deliver a single baby at full term and the babies head is presenting first in the birth canal. “The professional society for obstetricians, however, cites evidence that planned home birth carries an increased risk of neonatal death, compared with planned hospital birth.” Some medical center are trying to have the best of both worlds by allowing midwives to have more a independence within the
There is often debate regarding the topic of home birth vs. hospital birth. The debates may be fueled by common misconceptions due to the medicalization of birth. Even though there is extensive evidence based research on the safe outcomes of home and natural birth, many people still refute the concept. The outcomes for women delivering at home attended by certified
“The Constitution leaves in its wake a long legacy, forever shaping the fate of many other countries. Whether those countries are currently in a state favorable to liberty or not, it is undeniable that the U.S. Constitution’s principles have caused people to rethink how to organize their political systems” (Hang). Time has only added value to the Constitution, for every time we reference it in our lives it is a testament of our trust and loyalty in what it states about our rights as individuals and the role the government plays in our lives. When it was written, the Constitution was the law of the land that gave people rights they had previously lived without. Similarly, we live lives of choice and independence because of the same document while other countries limit all the rights we are guaranteed in the Constitution. Simply put, “The Constitution is important because it protects individual freedom, and its fundamental principles govern the United States. The Constitution places the government 's power in the hands of the citizens. It limits the power of the government and establishes a system of checks and balances”
There are two ways a child can come into this world, and that is through vaginal delivery or cesarean section. No matter the method, there are trained professionals there to introduce a newborn into the world. Labor and Delivery nurses are very important to not only the afterbirth of a newborn. They are also responsible for taking care of the mother before.
Ms. Robin Mitchell, an experience labor and delivery nurse, says, “ I have worked in many different fields of nursing, but working in Labor and Delivery was by far, my favorite. There is nothing to compare to the joy and satisfaction of sharing the experience of childbirth with a family. It is an unforgettable feeling of pride and sense of accomplishment, to see the new parent’s look in their eyes when they get to hold their newborn baby in their arms for the first time. Most times it is a happy experience, but many times, you have to share the loss of a child with a family. These are times that are difficult, but are unforgettable and despite the sad situation, helping a family through this difficult process can be rewarding and is something that you will never
In this article Devane et al. compared midwife led care of pregnant women with other models of care such as medical doctors being the primary care provider. The aim of the study is to establish wether there are significant differences in the outcomes between a midwives being the primary carer compared to other models. The authors used pregnant women who were randomly allocated to either midwife led care or other models of care during the ante and postnatally as well as during labour. This article is useful to my research topic as Devane et al. concluded that a midwife as a primary carer resulted in benefits for mothers and babies with no identified adverse affects. A limitation of this study is the exclusion of pregnant women with maternal disease and women with substance abuse in some trials. Therefore, the findings of this study should not be applied to pregnant women with substantial medical or obstetric complications. The authors suggest that more research is needed in midwife led models of care over a longer postpartum period.
Berk conveys that while doctors are present during some home births, most are attended “…by certified nurse-midwives who have degrees in nursing and additional training in childbirth management” (CITATION). There are risks associated with childbirth, regardless of the setting. For women who are healthy, have not experienced issues during their pregnancies, and have not experienced issues with previous pregnancies, and are attended by a medical professional, home births can be just as safe as hospital births. Homebirths can also be more relaxing because the mother can move about more freely and has more control over the birthing experience than generally permitted during a hospital birth. Complications can arise during home births just as they can during a hospital birth. Therefore, it is wise to have a plan in place for transportation to the hospital if needed. There are numerous advantages to home births which include freedom of movement, more control over the birthing experience, decreased unnecessary medical interventions, and faster recovery. Disadvantages to homebirths include that a doctor is not likely to be quickly
Last of all, Cloning is not ethical, many religious groups look down upon cloning and think it’s not proper because they think it’s like playing God. Many scientists were mainly thinking about cloning animals and, most likely, humans in the future to harvest their organs and then kill them. “Who would actually like to be harvested and killed for their organs?” “Human cloning exploits human beings for our own self-gratification (Dodson, 2003).” A person paying enough money could get a corrupt scientist to clone anybody they wanted, like movie stars, music stars, athletes, etc (Andrea Castro 2005),” whether it be our desire for new medical treatments or our desire to have children on our own genetic terms (Dodson, 2003).
As early as the mid 1800s, women were choosing to give birth less with traditional midwives and began seeking the care of doctors. Childbirth often ended in mortality, of the mother and more often, the baby. Women in the middle and upper classes doubted the training of midwives. Doctors received formal training and were believed better suited to care for the challenge of childbirth. Medicine was embraced and encouraged by anyone that could afford it. Doctors were seen as a status indicator and midwives were only suitable for the poor. By late 1800s, doctors attended about half of the births in the United States. (Feldhusen, 2000)
Jha, Alok. "First British Human-animal Hybrid Embryos Created by Scientists | Science | The Guardian." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. Web. 06 Apr. 2011. .
Introduction to Maternity & Pediatric Nursing, Fourth Edition; Gloria Leifer, MA, Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA).