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Is cloning an animal ethical
Is animal cloning ethical
Animal cloning and ethics
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Frankenstein’s Cat, by Emily Anthes, takes the audience through multiple journeys of how science plays a role in the lives of animals. In chapter 3, Double Trouble, Anthes explores the concept of pet cloning and the pros and cons of it. The audience is introduced to many of the cloned animals and their stories such as Dolly and CC. Anthes informs us that the technology that cloning requires is far more advanced than our time and still needs time to evolve so that there are not as many failures or complications. Anthes brings up the point that many people worry about animal welfare and just how safe or dangerous cloning actually is. (56-79) Although we shouldn’t have to live without our four legged-family members, I believe that pet cloning is too risky based on the low success rates and the unknown outcomes. Many people couldn’t imagine no longer having that beloved pet in their lives that has been there for such a long time. This unimaginable idea could possibly be the cause of why Ron Gillespie …show more content…
co-founded the company, PerPETuate. PerPETuate is a company founded to simply take the DNA from any house pet and freeze it until pet cloning can obtain more dependable technology. This company offers a less expensive way to insure our pet’s DNA will eventually lead to a clone and all we must do is allow time for pet cloning technology to advance. (Anthes 76-77) PerPETuate gives us the opportunity to reunite with a clone version of our pets and even allows room for hope and confidence that we’ll be capable of interacting with our pets once again. I believe that many pet owners have invested in PerPETuate because they would rather spend a few years waiting for the technology to advance than to never be able to see these pets again. People have formed such an unbreakable bond with these pets which makes pet cloning even more appealing to the public’s eyes. Pet cloning comes with possible negative outcomes because it is an inexact process and we do not possess the technology advanced enough to overcome these obstacles.
In the chapter we are also introduced to Second Chance, a cloned bull, which was intended to resemble his donor but ended up being nearly the exact opposite. Second Chance was very forceful and violent in comparison to his donor, who was more careful with his owner, Ralph Fisher. Fisher took advantage of the opportunity to have a replica of his admired bull but there was no real success because he instead got a bull he never anticipated to receive. (Anthes 68) Second Chance exemplifies how the outcomes are unknown and really unpredictable since the donor and the clone had two very distinguishable personality types. A clone is simply an organism that has been asexually reproduced to closely resemble its donor, which means that pet cloning is not exact when it comes to appearance or personality of the
animal. The ineffectiveness of pet cloning brings up animal welfare, meaning how an animal is physically and mentally treated. Researchers in South Korea successfully created a cloned dog named Snuppy, but just how much they had to go through for this success is astonishing. A total of 1,095 embryos were implanted into 123 dogs, and out of this total only two cloned puppies were born but only one would survive. (Anthes 71) This heart breaking statistics proves that the well-being of these embryos, and future animals, are not actually cared for and that there is an extremely low success rate among pet cloning. There are also serious consequences for the 123 female dogs that had to be ripped open just to carry an embryo that would eventually not make it out alive. These South Korean researches are clearly showing no concern toward the value of lives of many animals, and have completely disregarded the fact that these animals are not products.
To develop one living organism through the process of cloning, close to hundreds of organisms die in the process. In fact, during the process of making Dolly, the scientists went through 277 trials to create a clone, and only 29 trials demonstrated the characteristics to possibly survive. Out of all 277 trails and 29 possible survivalist, only Dolly survived (Anthes 62). So by wanting cloning to be successful, scientist completely avoiding animal welfare. The scientist slaughter 276 organism without considering animal welfare. South Korea took the experiments to a new extreme in the process of cloning a dog. The South Koreans experimented on 1,095 clones by putting them into 123 dogs. By the end of all of their trials, only one dog survived (Anthes 71). Through this example, the extreme slaughter of 1,094 dog displays the protection that animals need from ultimate death established through the means of cloning. If cloning somehow proves not to become more successful in the future, the number of dying animals will rise at a phenomenal rate. By taking a deeper look at the numbers, the successful cloning of one animal might be based entirely on lucky, and new scientific ways may not deem
Imagine a puppy spending his entire life in a locked cage where he is deprived of food and water, and force-fed chemicals from time to time. This is the life of animals in a laboratory. Live-animal experimentation, also known as vivisection, is not only unethical, but also cruel and unnecessary. In the article “Vivisection is Right, but it is Nasty- and We must be Brave Enough to Admit This”, Michael Hanlon claims vivisection is a moral necessity that without the use of animals in the laboratory, humans would not have modern medicine like antibiotics, analgesic, and cancer drugs (1). For example, Hanlon believes sewing kittens’ eyelids together can aid researchers to study the effects of amblyopia in children (1). Conversely, the use of animals
In Frankenstein’s Cat by Emily Anthes, she talks about how humans change animals by biotechnology or adding limbs. The chapter “Pin the Tail on the Dolphin” discusses the many forms of prosthetics for animals. The prosthetics service animals from marine wildlife to a domesticated dog. A substantial focus zones in on a dolphin named Winter that loses her tail due to a fishing net that cut off the circulation from the tail to rest of her body. Two scientists come together to manufacture a fake tail for the dolphin. Eventually they invent a prosthetic tale that fits on Winter. Scientists even create prosthetic legs for animals such as dogs or flamingos. People construct beaks for birds and shells for turtles. Numerous uses of prosthetics benefit animals, but some seem more frivolous, like fake testicles for your neutered dog (122-142). I agree with Anthes on how prosthetics benefit animals by giving them a better life and allowing them to execute actions they could not before, but some prosthetic uses seem more for the owner’s comfort rather than
Zak, Steven. “Ethics and Animals.” Taking Sides: Science, Technology, and Society. Gilford: Dushkin Publishing Group, 2007
At first sight, there may not seem to be any similarities between the contemporary novel Never Let Me Go and the time-worn classic Frankenstein; but while Mary Shelly chooses to highlight the consequences of impetuous action in a harrowing tale about a hideous monster, Kazuo Ishiguro exemplifies the same principles in a heart wrenching tale about human clones. As a result of advancing societies, there is a common drive to create the “next best thing” whether it be monsters or clones; but the issue with this does not lie in the fact that scientists are pushing harder; but, that often there is little to no forethought regarding the consequences of creating a living thing, especially if it is created to be as human-like as possible. And, to worsen
In today’s world of genetically engineered hearts and genetically altered glowing rats, the story of Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, seems as if it could be seen in the newspapers in our near future. The discoveries seen in modern science, as well as in the novel, often have controversy and negative consequences that follow them, the biggest of which being the responsibility the creator of life has to what has been created. Victor Frankenstein suffers from a variety of internal and external conflicts stemming from the creation of his monster, which in return also experiences similar problems. Shelley uses these tumultuous issues to portray the discrepancies between right and wrong, particularly through romanticism and the knowledge of science.
Science is not inherently evil and never will become evil. Though the knowledge gained from science can be used toward producing evil, intended or not, and can be dangerous. The story of Victor Frankenstein shows the irresponsibility possible in the advancement of science and furthers the caution which humanity must take when it attempts to master its environment or itself. The proponents of cloning humans today should remind themselves of the lesson which Victor Frankenstein before they have to deal with the products of their research and learn the hard way.
Stephen King’s novel Pet Sematary pays reverence to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, encompassing and challenging elements from its characters, its plot, and the dissertations addressed in the novel. Pet Sematary is a huge interpretation of Frankenstein because how closely the characters relate, the countless similar imagery in each novel, and how each novel gives the aspect of cheating life. I plan to analyze from a comparative perspective just how much the novels parallel in storyline, characterization and intertexuality.
successful clones often have problems with their body and are subject to a short lifespan ridden with health problems. This hurts the person or animal cloned rather than to help them, making cloning an immoral
With the advancement of technology and science, we are now able to genetically modify animals. Mary Shelley found a way to make science an epitome, and confirms what could happen if science is taken too far. In conclusion, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is considered to be a historical novel, based on scientific advancements. In this novel Shelley depicts her own definition of human nature, by showing the creature and the ways that humans react to him. The novel also showed the differences between morality and science.
Countless lives locked away in cages and forgotten about have overwhelmed our society, it has left blood stains on our history as a species and if history has taught us anything, it’s that we have a choice to change our ways of adjusting to situations. A war which was fought in pursuit of ending such criminal means, yet we as human beings do little to nothing to end the horrific crimes of animal deaths in shelters. It is no secret that this world has become infused with problems that have extended from one side of the globe to the other. Amongst these problems lies a terrible truth: nearly every year, sums of almost eight million cats and dogs have been placed in shelters around the world. Out of these vast numbers, half will be euthanized; that equals to one animal being put down every 8 seconds. Animals that are not adopted are kept in shelters until they find a home. Most of these shelters do not have enough space or resources to care for the animal. Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners. The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. Twenty-six percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, 20 to 30 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues, and 2 to 10 percent are purchased from pet shops. In addition, only 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. The 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 78 percent of dogs and 88 percent of cats are not spayed or neutered, in 2009 Statistics from animal shelters in 55 counties in WV (West Virginia) shows that nearly 54% of all animals entering shelters are euthanized, The euthanasia rates ranged from the lowest at 5% to the highe...
(Erikson, 1950, 1968). A clone and their original can not always be at the same exact place
“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.
First of all, “Australia’s first cloned sheep appeared to be healthy and energetic the day she died, during the autopsy they could not find the cause (Castro, 2005).” There are many risks to cloning and you are seldom able to identify the cause of their death. “More than 90% of cloning attempts fail (Human Genome Program, 2006).” Most cloned animals died mysteriously even before they were born or when they were very young, so there is hardly any information on how clones age. Clones may be born with a normal looking body but may have internal functioning problems. “Cloned animals tend to have more compromised immune function and higher rates of infection, tumor growth, and other disorders (Human Genome Program, 2006).” There are many risks of cloning and a major factor is genetic differences.
One of the most unsettling experiments that is conducted includes taking organs from one species and transplanting them into another, which is known as xenotransplantation. The practice of genetic engineering in animals destroys the life of one animal to create specific, unnatural traits in another. Research has shown that people will only agree and accept the practice of animal experimentation when they think that the animals do not experience suffering. However, if the experiments were broadcast more publicly, this issue would not exist.