The Science and the Laws Impacting Human Cloning
Human cloning, long the subject of science fiction, is today a practical reality. Recent breakthroughs, most renowned the cloning of a sheep from an adult cell in Scotland in 1997, have caused the world to acknowledge that human cloning is indeed possible. Governments around the world immediately attempted to address the issue of human cloning, with varying levels of success. At the same time the pace of cloning technology continued to accelerate.
This paper will first examine the development of the technology that makes human cloning possible and the scientific uncertainties surrounding it. While this paper does not intend to take a stand on either side of the human cloning issue, a brief discussion of the human cloning controversy will be presented to help frame the legal debate. United States and international law then will be presented and analyzed. This paper argues that while there is a general consensus domestically and abroad that human cloning should be prohibited, the current legal paradigm is insufficient and unsuited to stop the proliferation of cloning technology and effectively prevent the occurance of human cloning. Finally, an this paper will examine the actors who may have an interest in cloning humans, and argue that a human being will likely be cloned in our time.
The Science
Cloning is a rather ambiguous term, and may refer to molecular cloning, cellular cloning, embryo twinning, and nuclear somatic transfer1. It is nuclear somatic transfer that is the concern of this paper and relevant to the subject of human cloning. Any competent discussion of the science that may make human cloning possible begins with the c...
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...st horrifying visions of a future world of clones produced in human factories will prove unfounded, being dismissed by existing child abuse laws. The end product of somatic human cell nuclear transfer is nothing more than a baby, one that despite its genetic make-up, will have to chart its own path through life.
1 Gregory E. Pence. Who’s Afraid of Human Cloning? Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. New York: 1998, p. 11
2 National Bioethics Association Commission (NBAC) Cloning Human Beings- Report and Recommendations. vol. II, p. B6
3 Heagle, 4
4 Marie A. DiBerardino & Robert G. McKinnell, Backward Compatible, The Sciences, Sept./Oct. 97, p. 32
5 Heagle, 5
6 Susan Greenlee. Dolly’s Legacy to Human Cloning: International Legal Responses and Potential Human Rights Violations. 18 Wisconsin University Law Journal 537. Spring 2000, Lexis-Nexis Version p. 5
In the 1800’s into the early 1900’s a man named John Muir began to explore the western American lands. He traveled down South and up North. But, when he reached Yosemite Valley, his life changed. As said in John Muir’s Wild America, written by Tom Melham, “Following the forest-lined mountain trails, Muir climbed higher into the Sierra Nevada: suddenly, a deep valley enclosed by colossal steeps and mighty water falls yawned before him. Spell bound, he entered Yosemite Valley” (79). Muir’s travels and adventures, highlighted in Melham’s book, explain this man’s love of the wilderness. Yosemite Valley was like a wide, open home to Muir, who, lived alone and discovered new landings and important later landmarks that create the aura of Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Valley was given to the state of California in 1864, part of the continuous idea of Manifest Destiny, later, in 1890; Yosemite became one of the first National Parks (“World Book”). Uniquely, the longer Muir stayed the more that he...
Bard, Mitchell G., ed. The Holocaust. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2001. Print. Turning Points in World History.
"A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims." A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims. University of South Florida. Web. 19 May 2014.
Haugen, David M., and Susan Musser. The Holocaust. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven, 2011. Print. Perspectives on Modern World History.
The Jewish Holocaust has to be one of the most famous and tragic genocides reported. We are taught that the reason we learn all about it is so tragic historical events like this won’t repeat in the future, but they do and they are. What many people don’t realize is that bystanders play a huge role in the events of the holocaust. Yes, the Germans played an obviously enormous part, and it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for them, but there were many other situations where others could have helped stop the tragedy and the deaths of millions of people.
"Victims." A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust. University of South Florida, 1 Jan. 1997. Web. 19 May 2014. .
For many years, people time and time again denied the happenings of the Holocaust or partially understood what was happening. Even in today’s world, when one hears the word ‘Holocaust’, they immediately picture the Nazi’s persecution upon millions of innocent Jews, but this is not entirely correct. This is because Jews
The Holocaust Resource Center, From Information to Understanding - News Regarding the Holocaust. N.p.. Web. 23 Feb 2014.
“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.
"A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims." Victims. Florida Center for Instructional Technology, 14 July 09. Web. 16 May 2014.
Porphyria is a hereditary disease that only requires one parent to pass it on. Porphyria consists of eight different forms, but all of them have an abnormal accumulations of porphyrins,caused by heme, a part of red blood cells that gives them their color and carries oxygen(Drugs). The irregularities of heme affect the chemical Porphyrin, which gives the disease its name. Porphyria attacks the nervous and muscular symptoms. This can cause abnormal skin reactions to sunlight, as well as seizures, nausea, and other symptoms. People with porphyria usually must avoid staying in the sun without protection, and must keep stress levels low, as this can cause symptoms or an attack of porphyria.
Throughout high school and college we will go through a vast amount of testing but why? Testing is used to show a person’s amount of knowledge on a particular subject. Usually it’s for one specific subject and not a majority of them, the standardized tests include all testable subjects as in English, math, science, writing, and reading. However, before we can all begin our college careers we have to take one of two tests, the ACT or the SAT. These two tests determine the college you get into, the amount of scholarships you will receive, and even whether or not your will be accepted into any college.
Dwork, Deborah, and R. J. Van Pelt. Holocaust: a History. New York: Norton, 2002. Print.
Grant, Michael. From Alexander to Cleopatra: The Hellenistic World. New York: Micheal Grant Publications Ltd, 1982.
Since 1960s both minimum and maximum temperatures have exhibited a rising trend; with minimum increasing by a range of 0.7-2.0 degrees Celsius and maximum by 0.2-1.3 degree Celsius varying by region and season. Notable also is variability of rainfall patterns such as below normal rainfall in the long rains season and more during the short rainfall season, some regions have recorded more intense rainfall and downpours that have resulted to floods and infrastructural impairments. Extinction or near extinction of flora and fauna, changes in flowering and maturity patterns in crops are all attributable to climate change. These changes have had and are expected to have far reaching impacts on the economic sectors of the economy. Some of the expected sectoral impacts are discussed