cloning humans pros essay

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The Pros & Cons of Cloning

Advantages & Disadvantages of Cloning

As far as anyone really knows, scientists have yet to clone a human being, and there are no federal laws against it in the United State. However, seven states prohibit it altogether, and 10 states only allow it for biomedical research. While more than 30 countries formally ban cloning for reproductive purposes, China, England, Israel, Singapore and Sweden do allow cloning for research, but disallow reproductive cloning.

Cloning Definition

The definition of a clone as explained by Encyclopaedia Britannica is a cell or living thing, an organism, that is "genetically identical to the original cell or organism" from which it comes. The word itself comes from the ancient Greek word "klon," which means twig. Single-cell organisms like some yeasts and bacteria naturally reproduce clones of parent cells via budding or binary fission. Individual body cells within plants and animals are clones that occur during a cell-reproduction process called mitosis.

Cloned Animals

In 2017, scientists in Shanghai succeeded in cloning two genetically identical long-tailed macaques, small brown and black monkeys with body lengths of 16 to 28 inches. The last successful cloning of a primate was in 1998, but scientists have also cloned about 20 different types of animals including dogs, pigs, frogs, mice, cows and rabbits since the first cloned animal in 1996.

The First Cloned Animal: Dolly the Sheep

The first successful animal cloning occurred over 22 years ago, after a Scottish Blackface sheep surrogate mother gave birth to Dolly on July 5, 1996, at the Roslin Institute, part of the University of Edinburgh. Cloned from a six-year-old Dorset sheep, scientists analyzed her DNA at her first birthday and discovered that the telomeres at the end of her DNA strands (think eraser on a pencil head) were shorter that they should be for her age. As animals and humans age, these telomeres become shorter. The average age for sheep runs between six to 12 years. Dolly died when she was six, and though she had shortened telomeres, she lived an average life and produced multiple offspring through natural methods, but she also developed diseases in her later years.

Human Cloning Pros and Cons

The pros or advantages of human cloning include:

• ​ Infertility: ​ Infertile people or same-sex couples could have children made from cloned cells.
• ​ Organ replacement: ​ A clone, like in the movie, "The Island," could be a source for transplant organs or tissue. (There are ethical issues that arise from this, however.)
• ​ Genetic research: ​ Cell cloning could assist scientists in gene editing and research.
• ​ Selective human traits: ​ After editing or removing bad genes, cloning could lead engineered humans for specific traits.
• ​ Human development: ​ Cloning could enhance and advance human development.

The cons or disadvantages of human cloning raise moral, ethical and safety issues:

• ​ Reproductive cloning: ​ The negatives of human cloning including the making of designer babies.
• ​ Human cloning: ​ Could be a violation of the clone's individual human rights.
• ​ Embryonic cloning: ​ Cellular degradation occurs when too many clones are made from embryos.
• ​ Unique identities: ​ Cloning raises the question of a moral or human right to an exclusive identity.
• ​ Societal impacts: ​ Human cloning could produce psychological distress for the clone and society.

Effects of Cloning

While the purpose of cloning is to create an exact replica – if scientists cloned a human that appears identical to the original – it raises the questions as to whether the cloned human is an individual separate from the original and is due the same rights as any other human. Human cloning research and techniques could subject the clone to unacceptable risks such as a shortened life, bad health or other unknown problems. In the end, legalizing cloning on a wide-scale basis could lead to a disrespect for human life and the individual worth of a person, which might ultimately diminish all humans in the end.

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• CNN: Monkey See, Monkey 2: Scientists Clone Monkeys Using Technique That Created Dolly the Sheep
• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Macaque
• The University of Edinburgh: The Life of Dolly
• North Carolina State Extension: Sheep Facts
• Georgetown University: Cloning Human Beings
• Johns Hopkins University: Ask an Expert: How Close Are We to Cloning Humans?
• The New Atlantis: Appendix: State Laws on Human Cloning
• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Clone

About the Author

As a journalist and editor for several years, Laurie Brenner has covered many topics in her writings, but science is one of her first loves. Her stint as Manager of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in California's gold country served to deepen her interest in science which she now fulfills by writing for online science websites. Brenner is also a published sci-fi author. She graduated from San Diego's Coleman College in 1972.

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Human Cloning: Biology, Ethics, and Social Implications

Affiliations.

• 1 MAGI'S LAB, Rovereto (TN), Italy.
• 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
• 3 MAGI EUREGIO, Bolzano, Italy.
• 4 MAGISNAT, Peachtree Corners (GA), USA.
• 5 School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Technological University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
• 6 Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ca-nada.
• 7 Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Ocular Regenerative Therapy, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
• 8 Centre for Bioethics, Department of Philosophy and Applied Philosophy, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Trnava, Slovakia.
• 9 Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
• 10 nstitute of Ophthalmology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
• 11 MAGI BALKANS, Tirana, Albania.
• 12 Department of Biotechnology, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Trnava, Slovakia.
• 13 International Centre for Applied Research and Sustainable Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia.
• 14 UOC Neurology and Stroke Unit, ASST Lecco, Merate, Italy.
• 15 Center for Preclincal Research and General and Liver Transplant Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
• 16 Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
• 17 Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
• 18 UOC Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Dentistry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
• 19 Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.
• 20 Department of Medical Genetics, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey.
• 21 Vascular Diagnostics and Rehabilitation Service, Marino Hospital, ASL Roma 6, Marino, Italy.
• 22 San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
• 23 Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, SyNaBi, Grenoble, France.
• 24 Department of Biotechnology, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania.
• 25 Total Lipedema Care, Beverly Hills, California, and Tucson, Arizona, USA.
• 26 Federation of the Jewish Communities of Slovakia.
• 27 Department of Psychological Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
• 28 Unit of Molecular Genetics, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
• 29 Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.
• PMID: 37994769
• DOI: 10.7417/CT.2023.2492

This scholarly article delves into the multifaceted domains of human cloning, encompassing its biological underpinnings, ethical dimensions, and broader societal implications. The exposition commences with a succinct historical and contextual overview of human cloning, segueing into an in-depth exploration of its biological intri-cacies. Central to this biological scrutiny is a comprehensive analysis of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and its assorted iterations. The accomplishments and discoveries in cloning technology, such as successful animal cloning operations and advances in the efficiency and viability of cloned embryos, are reviewed. Future improvements, such as reprogramming procedures and gene editing technology, are also discussed. The discourse extends to ethical quandaries intrinsic to human cloning, entailing an extensive contemplation of values such as human dignity, autonomy, and safety. Furthermore, the ramifications of human cloning on a societal plane are subjected to scrutiny, with a dedicated emphasis on ramifications encompassing personal identity, kinship connections, and the fundamental notion of maternity. Culminating the analysis is a reiteration of the imperative to develop and govern human cloning technology judiciously and conscientiously. Finally, it discusses several ethical and practical issues, such as safety concerns, the possibility of exploitation, and the erosion of human dignity, and emphasizes the significance of carefully considering these issues.

Keywords: Human cloning; biology; dignity; ethical considerations; safety; social implications.

Publication types

• Cloning, Organism*
• Nuclear Transfer Techniques*
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Article Contents

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The Cloning Debates and Progress in Biotechnology

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Paul L Wolf, George Liggins, Dan Mercola, The Cloning Debates and Progress in Biotechnology, Clinical Chemistry , Volume 43, Issue 11, 1 November 1997, Pages 2019–2020, https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/43.11.2019

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The perception by humans of what is doable is itself a great determiner of future events. Thus, the successful sheep cloning experiment leading to “Dolly” by Ian Wilmut and associates at Roslin Institute, Midlothian, UK, compels us to look in the mirror and consider the issue of human cloning. Should it occur, and if not, how should that opposing mandate be managed? If human cloning should have an acceptable role, what is that role and how should it be monitored and supervised?

In the February 27, 1997, issue of Nature , Ian Wilmut et al. reported that they cloned a sheep (which they named “Dolly”) by transferring the nuclear DNA from an adult sheep udder cell into an egg whose DNA had been removed ( 1 ). Their cloning experiments have led to widespread debate on the potential application of this remarkable technique to the cloning of humans. Following the Scottish researchers’ startling report, President Clinton declared his opposition to using this technique to clone humans. He moved swiftly to order that federal funds not be used for such an experiment and asked an independent panel of experts, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC), chaired by Princeton University President Harold Shapiro, to report to the White House with recommendations for a national policy on human cloning. According to recommendations by the NBAC, human cloning is likely to become a crime in the US in the near future. The Commission’s main recommendation is to enact federal legislation to prohibit any attempts, whether in a research or a clinical setting, to create a human through somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning.

The concept of genetic manipulation is not new and has been a general practice for more than a century, through practices ranging from selective cross-pollination in plants to artificial insemination in domestic farm animals.

Wilmut and his colleagues made 277 attempts before they succeeded with Dolly. Previously, investigators had reported successful cloning in frogs, mice, and cattle ( 2 )( 3 )( 4 )( 5 ), and 1 week after Wilmut’s report, Don Wolf and colleagues at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center reported their cloning of two rhesus monkeys by utilizing embryonic cells. The achievement of Wilmut’s team shocked nucleic acid experts, who thought it would be an impossible feat. They believed that the DNA of adult cells could not perform similarly to the DNA formed when a spermatozoa’s genes mingle with those of an ovum.

On July 25, 1997, the Roslin team also reported the production of lambs that contained human genes ( 6 ). Utilizing techniques similar to those they had used in Dolly, they inserted a human gene into the nuclei of sheep cells. These cells were next inserted into the ova of sheep from which the DNA had been removed. The resulting lambs contained the human gene in every cell. In this new procedure the DNA had been inserted into skin fibroblast cells, which are specialized cells, unlike previous procedures in which DNA was introduced into a fertilized ovum. The new lamb has been named “Polly” because she is a Poll Dorset sheep. The goal of this new genetically engineered lamb is for these lambs to produce human proteins necessary for the treatment of human genetic diseases, such as factor VIII for hemophiliacs, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) substance for patients with cystic fibrosis, tissue plasminogen activator to induce lysis of acute coronary and cerebral artery thrombi, and human growth factor.

Charles Darwin was frightened when he concluded that humans were not specifically separated from all other animals. Not until 20 years after his discovery did he have the courage to publish his findings, which changed the way humans view life on earth. Wilmut’s amazing investigations have also created worldwide fear, misunderstanding, and ethical shock waves. Politicians and a few scientists are proposing legislation to outlaw human cloning ( 7 ). Although the accomplishment of cloning clearly could provide many benefits to medicine and to conservation of endangered species of animals, politicians and a few scientists fear that the cloning procedure will be abused.

The advantages of cloning are numerous. The ability to clone dairy cattle may have a larger impact on the dairy industry than artificial insemination. Cloning might be utilized to produce multiple copies of animals that are especially good at producing meat, milk, or wool. The average cow makes 13 000 pounds (5800 kg) of milk a year. Cloning of cows that are superproducers of milk might result in cows producing 40 000 pounds (18 000 kg) of milk a year.

Wilmut’s recent success in cloning “Polly” represents his main interest in cloning ( 8 ). He believes in cloning animals able to produce proteins that are or may prove to be useful in medicine. Cloned female animals could produce large amounts of various important proteins in their milk, resulting in female animals that serve as living drug factories. Investigators might be able to clone animals affected with human diseases, e.g., cystic fibrosis, and investigate new therapies for the human diseases expressed by these animals.

Another possibility of cloning could be to change the proteins on the cell surface of heart, liver, kidney, or lung, i.e., to produce organs resembling human organs and enhancing the supply of organs for human transplantation. The altered donor organs, e.g., from pigs, would be less subject to rejection by the human recipient. The application of cloning in the propagation of endangered species and conservation of gene pools has been proposed as another important use of the cloning technique ( 9 )( 10 ).

The opponents of cloning have especially focused on banning the cloning of humans ( 11 ). The UK, Australia, Spain, Germany, and Denmark have implemented laws barring human cloning. Opponents of human cloning have cited potential ethical and legal implications. They emphasize that individuals are more than a sum of their genes. A clone of an individual might have a different environment and thus might be a different person psychologically and have a different “soul.” Cloning of a human is replication and not procreation.

Morally questionable uses of genetic material transfer and cloning obviously exist. For example, infertility experts might be especially interested in the cloning technique to produce identical twins, triplets, or quadruplets. Parents of a child who has a terminal illness might wish to have a clone of the child to replace the dying child. The old stigma, eugenics, also raises its ugly head if infertile couples wish to use the nuclear transfer techniques to ensure that their “hard-earned” offspring will possess excellent genes. Moral perspectives will differ tremendously in these cases. Judgments about the appropriateness of such uses are outside the realm of science.

Opponents of animal cloning are concerned that cloning will negate genetic diversity of livestock. This also applies to human cloning, which could negate genetic diversity of humans. Cloning creates, by definition, a second class of human, a human with a determined genotype called into existence, however benevolently, at the behest of another. The insulation of selection-of-mate is lost, and the second class is created. Few contrasts could be so clear. Selection-of-mate is so imprecise that, at present, would-be parents have to accept a complete new genome for the sake of including or excluding one or a few traits; cloning, in contrast, is the precise determination of all genes. If we acknowledge that the creation of a second class of humans is unethical, then we preempt any argument that some motivations for human cloning may be acceptable.

The opponents of cloning also fear that biotechnically cloned foods might increase the risk of humans acquiring some malignancies or infections such as “mad cow disease,” a prion spongiform dementia encephalopathy (human Jakob–Creutzfeldt disease).

The technological advances associated with manipulation of genetic materials now permit us to envision replacement of defective genes with “good” genes. Although current progress is not sufficient to make this practical today for human diseases, any efforts to stop such research as a result of cloning hysteria would preclude the development of true cures for many hereditary human diseases. Unreasonable restrictions on the use of human tissues in gene transfer research will have the inevitable consequences of delaying, if not preventing, the development of strategies to combat defective genes.

Wise legislation will enable humankind to realize the benefits of gene transfer technologies without risking the horrors that could arise from misuse of these technologies. Our hope is that such wise legislation is what will be enacted. In our view, the controversy surrounding human cloning must not lead to prohibitions that would prevent advances similar to those described here.

Wilmut I, Schnieke AE, McWhire J, Kind AJ, Campbell KHS. Viable offspring derived from fetal and adult mammalian cells. Nature 1997 ; 385 : 810 -813.

Pennisi E, Williams N. Will Dolly send in the clones?. Science 1997 ; 275 : 1415 -1416.

Gurdon JB, Laskey RA, Reeves OR. The developmental capacity of nuclei transplanted from keratinized skin cells of adult frogs. J Embryol Exp Morphol 1975 ; 34 : 93 -112.

Prather RS. Nuclei transplantation in the bovine embryo. Assessment of donor nuclei and recipient oocyte. Biol Reprod 1987 ; 37 : 859 -866.

Kwon OY, Kono T. Production of identical sextuplet mice by transferring metaphase nuclei from 4-cell embryos. J Reprod Fert Abst Ser 1996 ; 17 : 30 .

Kolata G. Lab yields lamb with human gene. NY Times 1997;166:July 25;A12..

Specter M, Kolta G. After decades of missteps, how cloning succeeded. NY Times 1997;166:March 3;B6–8..

Ibrahim YM. Ian Wilmut. NY Times 1997;166:February 24;B8..

Ryder OA, Benirschke K. The potential use of “cloning” in the conservation effort. Zoo Biol 1997 ; 16 : 295 -300.

Cohen J. Can cloning help save beleaguered species?. Science 1997 ; 276 : 1329 -1330.

Williams N. Cloning sparks calls for new laws. Science 1997;275:141-5..

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Cloning Fact Sheet

The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity. The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the original, is referred to as a clone. Researchers have cloned a wide range of biological materials, including genes, cells, tissues and even entire organisms, such as a sheep.

Do clones ever occur naturally?

Yes. In nature, some plants and single-celled organisms, such as bacteria , produce genetically identical offspring through a process called asexual reproduction. In asexual reproduction, a new individual is generated from a copy of a single cell from the parent organism.

Natural clones, also known as identical twins, occur in humans and other mammals. These twins are produced when a fertilized egg splits, creating two or more embryos that carry almost identical DNA . Identical twins have nearly the same genetic makeup as each other, but they are genetically different from either parent.

What are the types of artificial cloning?

There are three different types of artificial cloning: gene cloning, reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning.

Gene cloning produces copies of genes or segments of DNA. Reproductive cloning produces copies of whole animals. Therapeutic cloning produces embryonic stem cells for experiments aimed at creating tissues to replace injured or diseased tissues.

Gene cloning, also known as DNA cloning, is a very different process from reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive and therapeutic cloning share many of the same techniques, but are done for different purposes.

What sort of cloning research is going on at NHGRI?

Gene cloning is the most common type of cloning done by researchers at NHGRI. NHGRI researchers have not cloned any mammals and NHGRI does not clone humans.

How are genes cloned?

Researchers routinely use cloning techniques to make copies of genes that they wish to study. The procedure consists of inserting a gene from one organism, often referred to as "foreign DNA," into the genetic material of a carrier called a vector. Examples of vectors include bacteria, yeast cells, viruses or plasmids, which are small DNA circles carried by bacteria. After the gene is inserted, the vector is placed in laboratory conditions that prompt it to multiply, resulting in the gene being copied many times over.

How are animals cloned?

In reproductive cloning, researchers remove a mature somatic cell , such as a skin cell, from an animal that they wish to copy. They then transfer the DNA of the donor animal's somatic cell into an egg cell, or oocyte, that has had its own DNA-containing nucleus removed.

Researchers can add the DNA from the somatic cell to the empty egg in two different ways. In the first method, they remove the DNA-containing nucleus of the somatic cell with a needle and inject it into the empty egg. In the second approach, they use an electrical current to fuse the entire somatic cell with the empty egg.

In both processes, the egg is allowed to develop into an early-stage embryo in the test-tube and then is implanted into the womb of an adult female animal.

Ultimately, the adult female gives birth to an animal that has the same genetic make up as the animal that donated the somatic cell. This young animal is referred to as a clone. Reproductive cloning may require the use of a surrogate mother to allow development of the cloned embryo, as was the case for the most famous cloned organism, Dolly the sheep.

What animals have been cloned?

Over the last 50 years, scientists have conducted cloning experiments in a wide range of animals using a variety of techniques. In 1979, researchers produced the first genetically identical mice by splitting mouse embryos in the test tube and then implanting the resulting embryos into the wombs of adult female mice. Shortly after that, researchers produced the first genetically identical cows, sheep and chickens by transferring the nucleus of a cell taken from an early embryo into an egg that had been emptied of its nucleus.

It was not until 1996, however, that researchers succeeded in cloning the first mammal from a mature (somatic) cell taken from an adult animal. After 276 attempts, Scottish researchers finally produced Dolly, the lamb from the udder cell of a 6-year-old sheep. Two years later, researchers in Japan cloned eight calves from a single cow, but only four survived.

Besides cattle and sheep, other mammals that have been cloned from somatic cells include: cat, deer, dog, horse, mule, ox, rabbit and rat. In addition, a rhesus monkey has been cloned by embryo splitting.

Have humans been cloned?

Despite several highly publicized claims, human cloning still appears to be fiction. There currently is no solid scientific evidence that anyone has cloned human embryos.

In 1998, scientists in South Korea claimed to have successfully cloned a human embryo, but said the experiment was interrupted very early when the clone was just a group of four cells. In 2002, Clonaid, part of a religious group that believes humans were created by extraterrestrials, held a news conference to announce the birth of what it claimed to be the first cloned human, a girl named Eve. However, despite repeated requests by the research community and the news media, Clonaid never provided any evidence to confirm the existence of this clone or the other 12 human clones it purportedly created.

In 2004, a group led by Woo-Suk Hwang of Seoul National University in South Korea published a paper in the journal Science in which it claimed to have created a cloned human embryo in a test tube. However, an independent scientific committee later found no proof to support the claim and, in January 2006, Science announced that Hwang's paper had been retracted.

From a technical perspective, cloning humans and other primates is more difficult than in other mammals. One reason is that two proteins essential to cell division, known as spindle proteins, are located very close to the chromosomes in primate eggs. Consequently, removal of the egg's nucleus to make room for the donor nucleus also removes the spindle proteins, interfering with cell division. In other mammals, such as cats, rabbits and mice, the two spindle proteins are spread throughout the egg. So, removal of the egg's nucleus does not result in loss of spindle proteins. In addition, some dyes and the ultraviolet light used to remove the egg's nucleus can damage the primate cell and prevent it from growing.

Do cloned animals always look identical?

No. Clones do not always look identical. Although clones share the same genetic material, the environment also plays a big role in how an organism turns out.

For example, the first cat to be cloned, named Cc, is a female calico cat that looks very different from her mother. The explanation for the difference is that the color and pattern of the coats of cats cannot be attributed exclusively to genes. A biological phenomenon involving inactivation of the X chromosome (See sex chromosome ) in every cell of the female cat (which has two X chromosomes) determines which coat color genes are switched off and which are switched on. The distribution of X inactivation, which seems to occur randomly, determines the appearance of the cat's coat.

What are the potential applications of cloned animals?

Reproductive cloning may enable researchers to make copies of animals with the potential benefits for the fields of medicine and agriculture.

For instance, the same Scottish researchers who cloned Dolly have cloned other sheep that have been genetically modified to produce milk that contains a human protein essential for blood clotting. The hope is that someday this protein can be purified from the milk and given to humans whose blood does not clot properly. Another possible use of cloned animals is for testing new drugs and treatment strategies. The great advantage of using cloned animals for drug testing is that they are all genetically identical, which means their responses to the drugs should be uniform rather than variable as seen in animals with different genetic make-ups.

After consulting with many independent scientists and experts in cloning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided in January 2008 that meat and milk from cloned animals, such as cattle, pigs and goats, are as safe as those from non-cloned animals. The FDA action means that researchers are now free to using cloning methods to make copies of animals with desirable agricultural traits, such as high milk production or lean meat. However, because cloning is still very expensive, it will likely take many years until food products from cloned animals actually appear in supermarkets.

Another application is to create clones to build populations of endangered, or possibly even extinct, species of animals. In 2001, researchers produced the first clone of an endangered species: a type of Asian ox known as a guar. Sadly, the baby guar, which had developed inside a surrogate cow mother, died just a few days after its birth. In 2003, another endangered type of ox, called the Banteg, was successfully cloned. Soon after, three African wildcats were cloned using frozen embryos as a source of DNA. Although some experts think cloning can save many species that would otherwise disappear, others argue that cloning produces a population of genetically identical individuals that lack the genetic variability necessary for species survival.

Some people also have expressed interest in having their deceased pets cloned in the hope of getting a similar animal to replace the dead one. But as shown by Cc the cloned cat, a clone may not turn out exactly like the original pet whose DNA was used to make the clone.

What are the potential drawbacks of cloning animals?

Reproductive cloning is a very inefficient technique and most cloned animal embryos cannot develop into healthy individuals. For instance, Dolly was the only clone to be born live out of a total of 277 cloned embryos. This very low efficiency, combined with safety concerns, presents a serious obstacle to the application of reproductive cloning.

Researchers have observed some adverse health effects in sheep and other mammals that have been cloned. These include an increase in birth size and a variety of defects in vital organs, such as the liver, brain and heart. Other consequences include premature aging and problems with the immune system. Another potential problem centers on the relative age of the cloned cell's chromosomes. As cells go through their normal rounds of division, the tips of the chromosomes, called telomeres, shrink. Over time, the telomeres become so short that the cell can no longer divide and, consequently, the cell dies. This is part of the natural aging process that seems to happen in all cell types. As a consequence, clones created from a cell taken from an adult might have chromosomes that are already shorter than normal, which may condemn the clones' cells to a shorter life span. Indeed, Dolly, who was cloned from the cell of a 6-year-old sheep, had chromosomes that were shorter than those of other sheep her age. Dolly died when she was six years old, about half the average sheep's 12-year lifespan.

What is therapeutic cloning?

Therapeutic cloning involves creating a cloned embryo for the sole purpose of producing embryonic stem cells with the same DNA as the donor cell. These stem cells can be used in experiments aimed at understanding disease and developing new treatments for disease. To date, there is no evidence that human embryos have been produced for therapeutic cloning.

The richest source of embryonic stem cells is tissue formed during the first five days after the egg has started to divide. At this stage of development, called the blastocyst, the embryo consists of a cluster of about 100 cells that can become any cell type. Stem cells are harvested from cloned embryos at this stage of development, resulting in destruction of the embryo while it is still in the test tube.

What are the potential applications of therapeutic cloning?

Researchers hope to use embryonic stem cells, which have the unique ability to generate virtually all types of cells in an organism, to grow healthy tissues in the laboratory that can be used replace injured or diseased tissues. In addition, it may be possible to learn more about the molecular causes of disease by studying embryonic stem cell lines from cloned embryos derived from the cells of animals or humans with different diseases. Finally, differentiated tissues derived from ES cells are excellent tools to test new therapeutic drugs.

What are the potential drawbacks of therapeutic cloning?

Many researchers think it is worthwhile to explore the use of embryonic stem cells as a path for treating human diseases. However, some experts are concerned about the striking similarities between stem cells and cancer cells. Both cell types have the ability to proliferate indefinitely and some studies show that after 60 cycles of cell division, stem cells can accumulate mutations that could lead to cancer. Therefore, the relationship between stem cells and cancer cells needs to be more clearly understood if stem cells are to be used to treat human disease.

What are some of the ethical issues related to cloning?

Gene cloning is a carefully regulated technique that is largely accepted today and used routinely in many labs worldwide. However, both reproductive and therapeutic cloning raise important ethical issues, especially as related to the potential use of these techniques in humans.

Reproductive cloning would present the potential of creating a human that is genetically identical to another person who has previously existed or who still exists. This may conflict with long-standing religious and societal values about human dignity, possibly infringing upon principles of individual freedom, identity and autonomy. However, some argue that reproductive cloning could help sterile couples fulfill their dream of parenthood. Others see human cloning as a way to avoid passing on a deleterious gene that runs in the family without having to undergo embryo screening or embryo selection.

Therapeutic cloning, while offering the potential for treating humans suffering from disease or injury, would require the destruction of human embryos in the test tube. Consequently, opponents argue that using this technique to collect embryonic stem cells is wrong, regardless of whether such cells are used to benefit sick or injured people.

Last updated: August 15, 2020

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• Human Cloning Essay

IELTS Human Cloning Essay

This is a model answer for a  human cloning  essay.

If you look at the task, the wording is slightly different from the common  'do you agree or disagree'  essay.

However, it is essentially asking the same thing.

As people live longer and longer, the idea of cloning human beings in order to provide spare parts is becoming a reality. The idea horrifies most people, yet it is no longer mere science fiction.

To what extent do you agree with such a procedure?

Have you any reservations?

Understanding the Question and Task

You are asked if you agree with human cloning to use their body parts (in other words, what are the benefits), and what reservations (concerns) you have (in other words, what are the disadvantages).

So the best way to answer this human cloning essay is probably to look at both sides of the issue as has been done in the model answer.

As always, you must read the question carefully to make sure you answer it fully and do not go off topic.

You are specifically being asked to discuss the issue of creating human clones to then use their body parts. If you write about other issues to do with human cloning, you may go off topic.

Model Human Cloning Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer for Human Cloning Essay

The cloning of animals has been occurring for a number of years now, and this has now opened up the possibility of cloning humans too. Although there are clear benefits to humankind of cloning to provide spare body parts, I believe it raises a number of worrying ethical issues.

Due to breakthroughs in medical science and improved diets, people are living much longer than in the past. This, though, has brought with it problems. As people age, their organs can fail so they need replacing. If humans were cloned, their organs could then be used to replace those of sick people. It is currently the case that there are often not enough organ donors around to fulfil this need, so cloning humans would overcome the issue as there would then be a ready supply.

However, for good reasons, many people view this as a worrying development. Firstly, there are religious arguments against it. It would involve creating other human beings and then eventually killing them in order to use their organs, which it could be argued is murder. This is obviously a sin according to religious texts. Also, dilemmas would arise over what rights these people have, as surely they would be humans just like the rest of us. Furthermore, if we have the ability to clone humans, it has to be questioned where this cloning will end. Is it then acceptable for people to start cloning relatives or family members who have died?

To conclude, I do not agree with this procedure due to the ethical issues and dilemmas it would create. Cloning animals has been a positive development, but this is where it should end.

(276 words)

The essay is well-organized, with a clear introducion which introduces the topic:

• The cloning of animals has been occurring for a number of years now, and this has now opened up the possibility of cloning humans too.

And it has a thesis statement that makes it clear exactly how the human cloning essay will be structured and what the candidate's opinion is:

• Although there are clear benefits to humankind of cloning to provide spare body parts, I believe it raises a number of worrying ethical issues.

The first body paragraph discusses the advantages of cloning humans, and then the second body paragraph looks at the problems associated with this. The change of direction to look at the other side is clearly marked with a transition word ("however") and a topic sentence:

• However, for good reasons, many people view this as a worrying development.

Other transition words are used effectively to guide the reader through the ideas in the human cloning essay: Firstly,.. Also,... Furthermore,...

The candidate demonstrates that they can use a mix of complex structures. For example:

• Due to breakthroughs in medical science and improved diets, people are living much longer than in the past.
• It would involve creating another human and then eventually killing it in order to use its organs, which it could be argued is murder.
• ...if we have the ability to clone humans, it has to be questioned where this cloning will end.

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23 Major Human Cloning Pros and Cons

Human cloning in the form of identical twins is the closest comparison that we have to this scientific concept at this time. Artificial cloning processes have yet to be developed, and they may never be brought to light because of the numerous ethical and moral concerns involved with the technology that would allow a genetically identical copy of an existing or previously existing individual to be grown.

Even when there are naturally duplicated “clones” that share a nearly identical genetic profile, they are not exact duplicates. Each person has different experiences, thoughts, and perspectives that combine to create a unique individual. Even people who share a similar environment with similar DNA can turn out to be very different individuals.

When looking at the major human cloning pros and cons, it is essential that we balance the need to evolve the scientific processes involved in this artificial task while addressing the ethical and moral concerns which currently exist when manually creating or changing a genome. These are the crucial points to review.

List of the Pros of Human Cloning

1. Human cloning could resolve fertility issues. Couples who are unable to naturally conceive will be able to create children to whom they are a genetic relative thanks to human cloning. Infertility could become an issue of the past because doctors could take the genetic profile of each parent, infuse it into an embryo outside of the body, and potentially grow the fetus in a laboratory environment. This process could help countries such as Japan who are struggling with low birth rates right now.

The BBC reported in late 2018 that there was a remarkable decline in fertility rates in the developed world. In 1950, women were having an average of 4.7 children during their lifetime. In 2018, the fertility rate was just 2.4 children per woman. In the UK, that rate is just 1.7 children. When a country drops below 2.1 children per family, the population will eventually shrink.

2. Human cloning could lead to medical advancements. The processes of human cloning could help to create new advances in medical science. By creating a duplicated individual, it would become possible to share genetic material which could help to prevent or cure diseases that may have a negative impact on that person’s life. It could create a new line of research that is equivalent to what we see today with embryonic stem cell therapy potential.

3. Human cloning unlocks the benefits of genetic modification. Human cloning requires a precise form of genetic engineering. Using our current technologies, we would implement enzymes from bacteria to locate genes with in our DNA to create the necessary modifications for duplication. This technology has been in use since 2015, so it is not something from which we are completely unfamiliar. We know of five potential benefits to genetic modification within the human genome that are worth exploring.

• It could help us to begin curing genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or thalassaemia. • Genetic modification could also help us deal with complex diseases such as schizophrenia or heart disease. • Human cloning could help us discover new ways to combat the natural aging process, including potential opportunities to stop it. • Babies would no longer need to go through a genetic lottery before birth to know what their human potentiality would be during their lifetime. • It could begin to reduce the overall cost of disease treatments around the world.

4. Human cloning could help us to recover faster from devastating injuries. Interventional orthopedics is a non-surgical option which uses a patient’s own cells to help repair the damage that occurs during a traumatic injury. Sprains or strains to a ligament will typically heal in 4 to 6 weeks with rest, but when a tear occurs, the primary treatment option (especially with an ACL) is to apply a tissue graft at a steeper angle to encourage the healing process.

The current procedure increases a patient’s risk for osteoarthritis and cartilage damage later in life. Through the processes of human cloning, the cells can begin to rebuild on their own. It creates an opportunity for a faster recovery because doctors are duplicating the exact cells that the body requires.

5. Human cloning reduces issues of socioeconomic equality. According to the Science X Network, up to 10% of children in the developed world are currently taking medication such as Ritalin to help with their poor self-control issues. This medication makes it possible for today’s kids to improve their educational prospects because they have more control over their behaviors. Education, special services, diet, and other social interventions are also used to correct the natural inequality that occurs through the natural reproduction process.

Moving toward human cloning would allow the next generation of children to require fewer interventions throughout their life because they would be genetically equipped to handle the challenges which might come their way.

6. Human cloning could eliminate defective genes and chromosomes. The statistics on genetic diseases are particularly grim in today’s world. About 1% of the population in the United States will develop a specific disorder with a genetic foundation at some point during their life. Approximately 1 in 100,000 people in the U.S. have Syndrome A at the present time, with 100,000 children worldwide dealing with Syndrome B. The current leading cause of newborn death is due to birth defects. All of these issues could be reduced or eliminated if we were to embrace the benefits that human cloning provides.

7. Human cloning would allow great minds to continue benefiting humankind. Imagine what Albert Einstein would’ve been able to accomplish if he had 100 years to work instead of a few decades during a single lifetime. Where would we be today if Leonardo da Vinci had access to modern technology with his impressive imagination? Because of human cloning, we would be able to set the stage for humankind’s greatest minds to continue doing their work, albeit as new individuals, which would help our society advance at an even more rapid pace.

Significant contributions to science, music, literature, and the arts are possible because of the technologies involved in human cloning.

8. Human cloning would help us to create more stem cells. Stem cells are what help to build, maintain, and repair the body throughout our lives. There are processes that these cells perform naturally, allowing them to be manipulated by doctors to repair diseased or damage to organs and tissues. When they are transferred from one person to another, then the recipient sees these cells as being foreign bodies, triggering an immune response. Cloning is a way to create genetically identical cells that could help to create better health outcomes for people, especially if they suffer from a rare genetic disease.

9. Human cloning could eliminate viral epidemics. The primary goal of treating a virus such as HIV/AIDS is to suppress the mechanisms involved that harm human health. Human cloning could help to replicate a natural resistance to these diseases, disorders, and conditions when discovered in the general population. For as long as disease has existed on our planet, there have been a select few people who have a natural resistance to specific illnesses. A mutation of the CCR5 gene, for example, creates a natural resistance to HIV.

Some people naturally resist the influenza virus better than others. Researchers even found that a group of women in West Africa remained perfectly healthy despite repetitive exposure to the Ebola virus. Human cloning would allow us to take advantage of these natural immunities to create new vaccines, medical treatments, or even children in future generations who would not be forced to struggle with such devastating illnesses.

10. Human cloning could adapt our population to changing planetary conditions. The processes of evolution allow humankind to begin adapting to changing conditions on our planet. Future generations may be able to adapt to a warming world thanks to the slow adaptations of our genetic profile to this shift. Human cloning could speed up this process to help save lives that would normally be lost through the process of natural selection. We would be able to take the genetic profile of those who are the most resistant to any change, duplicate it, and then spread it to the rest of the population.

11. Human cloning could lead to advancements in organ transplantation. There are over 100,000 people on organ transplantation wait lists in the United States right now. Roughly 10,000 individuals are waiting for a critical organ, such as a heart. Through the processes of human cloning, it may become possible to duplicate a patient’s needed organ in a laboratory setting to create a viable outcome. This process would also reduce the immune response that occurs after this procedure takes place because the new organ would be based on the cells of the individual instead of a random donation.

12. Human cloning could help us understand the reasons why spontaneous abortions occur. Spontaneous abortion, which is the medical term for a pregnancy loss or “miscarriage,” is the natural death of a fetus or embryo before it can survive independently. Approximately 80% occur in the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy, with about half of the incidents involving a chromosomal abnormality of some type. Among women who are currently pregnant, up to 1 in 5 may experience this outcome. The processes behind human cloning would help us to understand more about these abnormalities, and then correct them to prevent future losses.

List of the Cons of Human Cloning

1. Human cloning might cause people to age faster instead of slower. As cells begin to age, the information they obtain is imprinted within their physical structure. When a person begins to grow up, they generate genetic information that their genome maintains. Although we know that cloning is possible, what we do not understand at this present time is whether the information contained within our DNA could cause an artificial duplicate to develop more rapidly than normal.

If genetic age imprinting does apply to the human genome, then providing embryos with older cells could create issues with premature aging. This process could lead to new genetic diseases, potentially increasing the risk for premature death.

2. Human cloning would change how we perceive individuality. Human cloning creates two or more individuals with the same genetic profile. Each person would have their own brains and bodies, which means they would be like any other family member within a specific genetic profile. Although each person will develop uniquely based on their circumstances, there would still be issues with individuality because of the physical similarities that exist. Other people who are not involved with the cloning process could begin to treat those who are differently within society, creating a new social class reserved only for those who are genetic duplicates of an “authentic” human.

3. Human cloning would only be available to the wealthy initially. Although human cloning will eventually help everyone at some level, the first procedures would be available only to those with enough money to take advantage of his potential benefits. There is a general rule in the humankind that says those who have power will do whatever it takes to maintain it. Even if the technologies become affordable to everyone, those who received the benefits first will already have a distinct advantage over those who did not.

We would still have our socioeconomic divides in place, even with this science, because those with money could afford more features, add-ons, or processes than those who are struggling to put food on their table.

4. Human cloning would face the same dangers as animal cloning. It requires over 100 embryos to create one viable animal clone in many circumstances. Although scientists have successfully brought back an extinct species through the technologies and understanding of the research in this field, the results were less than spectacular. The bucardo, an extinct wild goat, only lived for about 10 minutes after it reached a stage of meaningful life. That is why this process is illegal in most parts of the world today, relying on the research in cloning stem cells as a way to advance the science instead of duplicating entire individuals.

5. Human cloning will always have spiritual, moral, and ethical consequences attached to it. There will always be physical risks to humans associated with the artificial cloning process. People have ethical and moral objections to this science as well. When Dolly the Sheep was born as a clone in 1997, it did not take religious leaders long to speak out against the science from the pulpit. The Roman Catholic church is against human cloning of any kind, and they have held that position since 1987. Jewish leaders do not necessarily see a fertilized embryo as having full human status.

These debates will never go away. Some people have no problem with the idea of creating human clones. Others will be fundamentally opposed to this science for a lifetime. This difference of opinion would create additional rifts in society that could become problematic in the future.

6. Human cloning attempts have been mostly unsuccessful. When we look at the processes of genetic treatments and their outcomes, more than 90% of the efforts taken to treat humans have resulted in failure. Even when there is a successful medical treatment using genetic techniques, the individual typically needs to keep taking their treatment over the course of their entire life to continue experiencing the benefits of this technology and research. This disadvantage may go away as our understanding of this topic increases, but it is something that we must consider before advancing to the next steps as well.

7. Human cloning could contaminate our DNA diversity. Although newborns go through a series of “chance” developments during their embryonic development stage, having a higher level of genetic diversity within human populations is beneficial to the overall health of our species. When we stay locked in closed genetic groups, then our DNA becomes contaminated with higher levels of mutations. This outcome creates a higher risk of disease later in life.

We have already seen this issue play out with the Ashkenazi Jewish population. There are five common genetic diseases which are much more prevalent in their community than in general humankind. Cystic Fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, Familial Dysautonomia, Spinal Muscular atrophy, and Gaucher disease are all severe issues with a prevalence rate as high as 1 in 10.

8. Human cloning could lead to exploitation. The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity suggest that one of the most significant disadvantages of human cloning would be how it could lead to a new exploitation of women. Scientists would need to manufacture enough cloned embryos to create a sufficient number of stem cell lines that are viable. Women would need to be injected with medication that would help them to ovulate rapidly, and then undergo an invasive procedure to extract the eggs. Even under current circumstances, up to 5% of patients experience hyperstimulation that leads to ongoing abdominal pain and even infertility in rare cases.

9. Human cloning would initially target women who are struggling financially. The women who would be willing to take on the health risks involved with egg harvesting procedures are those who are struggling financially. These women are not seeking to have children. They want the money associated with the procedure instead. Advanced Cell Technology paid up to $4,500 to each woman who donated eggs for their failed cloning experiments already. Amping up the research in this field would require an approach that was similar as a way to access the genetic materials that are necessary.

10. Human cloning creates people as a means to an end. It is unethical to view humans, regardless of their age, as a means to an end. Even people who support the development of stem cells and embryonic research are opposed to the idea of creating embryos specifically for the purpose of research or to produce medical outcomes for another person. When we start to research human cloning, this is exactly what we are doing. Activated cells are still part of the human experience. Therapeutic cloning might provide medical information that we can use in the future, but the costs may be too high to see any advantages happening from this process.

11. Human cloning would change how we grieve. Imagine a world where parents lose their child to tragic circumstances. Instead of embracing the natural grieving process, human cloning would suggest that the genetic materials could be used to create a duplicate. Although the clone would be a different individual, some parents may not treat them as such. It could create shifts in our society that alter the very way we approach the unforeseen moments of life. There is even the possibility of this science devaluing human life. Did you lose someone you love? Then create another person to limit your emotional reaction.

These human cloning pros and cons are essential to review because science is slowly progressing toward this outcome. It may be a process that becomes available in our lifetimes. When we reach this new plateau, there will be several philosophical and moral questions that each person must answer on their own. Do people have a soul? Is there a God? What happens when we die? If we can begin to find the answers today, then tomorrow’s technology will not experience implementation delays.

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Cloning — Human Cloning: Pros and Cons Around This Debatable Topic

Human Cloning: Pros and Cons Around This Debatable Topic

• Categories: Cloning Ethical Dilemma Medical Ethics

About this sample

Words: 1204 |

Published: Aug 14, 2023

Words: 1204 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Table of contents

Human cloning: pros and cons of this debate.

• Bradford, Alina. “Facts About Cloning.” ​LiveScience​, Purch, 2 Mar. 2017, www.livescience.com/58079-cloning-facts.html.
• Brenner, Laurie. “The Pros & Cons of Cloning.” ​Sciencing​, 2 Mar. 2019, sciencing.com/pros-cons-cloning-5453902.html.
• Hrubenja, Aleksandar, et al. “46 Crucial Endangered Species Statistics for 2020 and Beyond.” Petpedia​, 28 Feb. 2020, petpedia.co/endangered-species-statistics/.
• Davis, Nicola. “Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua: First Primates Born Using Dolly the Sheep Cloning Method.” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media, 24 Jan. 2018, www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jan/24/zhong-zhong-and-hua-hua-first-primates-born-using-dolly-the-sheep-cloning-method.
• Chief, Editor in. “23 Major Human Cloning Pros and Cons.” ​ConnectUS​, 12 Mar. 2019, connectusfund.org/23-major-human-cloning-pros-and-cons.
• “Positive And Negative Effects Of Cloning Biology Essay.” ​UKEssays.com​, www.ukessays.com/essays/biology/positive-and-negative-effects-of-cloning-biology-essay.php​.
• Jones, Judy. “Cloning May Cause Health Defects.” ​BMJ : British Medical Journal​, British Medical Journal, 8 May 1999, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1115633/.

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Cloning is a technique scientists use to create exact genetic replicas of genes, cells, or animals.

Biology, Genetics, Health, Chemistry

Cloned Beagles

Two Beagle puppies successfully cloned in Seoul, South Korea. These two dogs were cloned by a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in stem cell based therapeutics.

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Cloning is a technique scientists use to make exact genetic copies of living things. Genes , cells, tissues, and even whole animals can all be cloned .

Some clones already exist in nature. Single-celled organisms like bacteria make exact copies of themselves each time they reproduce. In humans, identical twins are similar to clones . They share almost the exact same genes . Identical twins are created when a fertilized egg splits in two.

Scientists also make clones in the lab. They often clone genes in order to study and better understand them. To clone a gene , researchers take DNA from a living creature and insert it into a carrier like bacteria or yeast. Every time that carrier reproduces, a new copy of the gene is made.

Animals are cloned in one of two ways. The first is called embryo twinning. Scientists first split an embryo in half. Those two halves are then placed in a mother’s uterus. Each part of the embryo develops into a unique animal, and the two animals share the same genes . The second method is called somatic cell nuclear transfer. Somatic cells are all the cells that make up an organism, but that are not sperm or egg cells. Sperm and egg cells contain only one set of chromosomes , and when they join during fertilization, the mother’s chromosomes merge with the father’s. Somatic cells , on the other hand, already contain two full sets of chromosomes . To make a clone , scientists transfer the DNA from an animal’s somatic cell into an egg cell that has had its nucleus and DNA removed. The egg develops into an embryo that contains the same genes as the cell donor. Then the embryo is implanted into an adult female’s uterus to grow.

In 1996, Scottish scientists cloned the first animal, a sheep they named Dolly. She was cloned using an udder cell taken from an adult sheep. Since then, scientists have cloned cows, cats, deer, horses, and rabbits. They still have not cloned a human, though. In part, this is because it is difficult to produce a viable clone . In each attempt, there can be genetic mistakes that prevent the clone from surviving. It took scientists 276 attempts to get Dolly right. There are also ethical concerns about cloning a human being.

Researchers can use clones in many ways. An embryo made by cloning can be turned into a stem cell factory. Stem cells are an early form of cells that can grow into many different types of cells and tissues. Scientists can turn them into nerve cells to fix a damaged spinal cord or insulin-making cells to treat diabetes.

The cloning of animals has been used in a number of different applications. Animals have been cloned to have gene mutations that help scientists study diseases that develop in the animals. Livestock like cows and pigs have been cloned to produce more milk or meat. Clones can even “resurrect” a beloved pet that has died. In 2001, a cat named CC was the first pet to be created through cloning. Cloning might one day bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth or giant panda.

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The Concept of Human Cloning Analytical Essay

Introduction, background study, methodology used, results and analysis.

The contemporary world has been associated with an advanced technology which has greatly boosted efficiency and effectiveness across all sectors ranging from business, engineering to the medical field.

The concept of cloning is among the most recent human discoveries that have greatly transformed societies. The invention has been associated with many benefits such as the ability to supplement natural organs with those generated those cloning.

For instance, cloning has enabled generation of organs which has created an alternative organs supply which those organs that are delivered from donors during the organ transplant instances. Organs generated through cloning have been noted to be very effective as they are not known to experience any rejections since they share the same gene with the body system.

Animal cloning has experienced a considerable success in the past few years. The first successful animal cloning was realized in 1997 when the Dolly sheep was successfully cloned.

Since then, animal cloning has greatly improved as noted by the ability of scientists to regenerate pigs, rabbits, goats among other animals. Despite, the great success in animal cloning, human cloning has remained a great problem to many scientists. The recent success of a Korean scientist to generate stem cells from cloned human embryos is a great step for the success of human cloning.

In spite of the presence of a very advanced technology in animal cloning, the process has been associated with many failures with a success rate of one or three in a hundred experiments. Human cloning on the other hand refers to the process of creation of genetically copy of a human.

There are generally three diverse processes of cloning which include Embryonic cloning, adult DNA cloning and the therapeutic cloning. Embryo cloning is also regarded as artificial twinning. This process involves removing one or more cells from an embryo and enabling the cell to develop on separately having the same DNA as the original embryo.

This type of cloning has recorded a significant success and especially in animal cloning. It has being tested minimally on humans. The Adult DNA cloning is the process that entails removing the DNA from the embryo and replacing it with another one from an adult animal.

The method is employed to give an exact duplicate of an existing animal. The process has been successfully carried out on sheep and goats, but not tried on human beings. Therapeutic cloning is the process that is used to clone human tissues or a human organ for transplant.

Various scholars and individuals perceive the issue of human cloning differently depending on one’s ethnicity, age, religion and gender. The researcher used the family members who included his parents, his younger brother and sister to find out how the aforementioned variables influence people’s perception about human cloning.

The research entailed a survey where the researcher prepared a questionnaire that the participants were required to fill accordingly and return them. The researcher in addition, organized a face –to-face interview with respective participants in order for him to clarify some issues and gather sufficient and relevant data for analysis.

The researcher used the questioner as his instrumental tool for collecting relevant data that was required to determine how age, ethnicity, religion and gender influenced an individual’s perception about human cloning. The questions that were contained in the questioner included both open and closed questions.

The closed questions were tailored in manner so that the interviewee could identify an answer from the range of alternatives provided. This was important since it enabled quantification of the variables. On the other hand, the use of open questions helped the participants to give their personal views pertaining to specific issues.

This helped in the qualitative study. The study used the researcher family members as the participants who included his, mother, father, younger brother and sister. After collecting relevant data, the questionnaires were coded, filtered and the data analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

The study was subjected to a number of limitations. One of the limitations that was observed was lack of a larger number of participants who participated in this survey; the failure meant that the researcher did not get sufficient data to facilitate proper inferences from the results presented.

Lack of larger number of participants meant that the researcher did not have an opportunity to study some important variables. For instance, all my participants being Christian denied me an opportunity to learn how other religions perceive the issue of human cloning.

The lack of large number of participants was necessitated by lack of enough resources that is, money and time to conduct the survey on a larger context. All my participants participated actively while responding to the questions posed to them, apart from my dad who was noted to shy away while addressing some issues.

All my family members embraced the concept of therapeutic cloning as an appropriate medical strategy to address the shortage of organs for transplant. All the four members agreed that the use of therapeutic cloning will greatly enhance the living of many people and especially those that require organs transplants such as the kidney and liver.

Although all of them were aware that these organs can alternatively be received from compatible donors, they were of the opinion that therapeutic cloning should be used to produce necessary organs for cloning since organs produced through this process are the best and cannot be subjected to rejection by the recipients system since they have the DNA of the recipient.

They also embraced the therapeutic cloning as they viewed it as a very appropriate technique to address the prevalent shortages for organs for transplant and especially in this era when peoples are opting for the sale of their organs rather than offer them for free.

My younger brother and sister accepted the human cloning as being the best strategy for procreation, since it gives individuals a great opportunity to determine whether he/she opts for twins or triplets.

They also supported human cloning as the best strategy for procreation since it’s more flexible than the natural method. Through this process one is given the opportunity to select offspring with the desired traits. Human cloning is very flexible and thus, the concerned party is more privileged in selecting the most perfect donor for one’s offspring.

This opportunity offers relevant individuals chances to select the donor of one’s offspring depending on one’s desired traits. On the other hand, my father and mother disagreed with human cloning as being the best strategy to foster twin offspring. They advocated for the natural twinning method which they argued was very effective and not prone to uncertainty of failure.

They equally contested the use of human cloning in establishing a pedigree child. My parents rejected the use of cloning technology to bring up a superb generation, since the offspring generated will lack varieties which brings beauty in life. My mother argued that although cloning may be employed to bring forth a race of people with super strengths such as Michal Jordan, the generation generated may unfortunately suffer from low intelligence which can make it being exploited as slaves.

Thus, cloning of humans should only guarantee emergence of a super human being who are both physically and intelligently dominate than the present humans we have today.

My sister and mother showed some inclination towards greatly accepting the idea of cloning as a solution to instances of infertility or genetically inherited illness. They argued that instead of someone engaging into extra marital affairs in the process of looking for a child, the use of cloning is an effective method of one getting one’s offspring.

In addition they argued those people that suffer from genetically inheritable diseases should consider opting for cloning method as their process of procreation to eradicate chances of passing these genes to their offspring.

My dad was of the opinion that instead of the use of cloning method as the process to foster children, the couple in question should consider adapting children. With adaption of the children, the family will have an opportunity to raise their own children and save the society and government the burden of looking after the adapted children.

When it came to the issue that cloning is the best strategy to guarantee the sex of a child, my dad greatly appreciated this concept by dad arguing that cloning was a better strategy to adapt for fostering children as it gives one a guarantee of a 100% about the sex of the child.

He argued that with the great medical technology, one is given an opportunity to get a baby of one’s preferred sex, without undergoing the natural method of try and error.

Similarly, my younger sister equally accepted the use of cloning as a technique of fostering siblings of desired sex. She argued that the ability to choose the sex of the child will greatly help in addressing the great gender imbalances that exist between men and women.

My mother and younger brother did not support the use of cloning in procreating siblings of one desired sex. My mother argued that the sex of a child does not matter and emphasized that God has His own unique way of ensuring harmony in the society between men and women. From this discussion, it was evident about how one’s ethnicity background is influential in one’s perception towards certain issues.

My dad being raised in a society where the boy child was greatly honored than the girl child was noted to emphasize more on the importance of determining the sex of a child. My mother being a bit younger and having been raised through more modernized setting shared similar opinions with my younger brother.

Therefore the issue of one’s background upbringing should not be underrated when addressing certain issues and in particular gender issues, since those people that share similar views with my dad are be termed as being greatly affected by gender stratification, where boys are regarded as being more superior to girls.

All the four considered human cloning as an unethical issue that tries to rob God his procreation powers which was only vested on humans upon their coming together through sexual intercourse.

My mother and dad greatly objected cloning since they complained that it will foster homosexuality since this is the only method that can guarantee the gay an opportunity to get children a situation that has greatly been used by many Christian to question the practicability of the gay marriages.

Similarly, all my family members rejected the idea of human cloning as a means of body replacement. They considered this cloning aspect as only a myth that is only founded in the scientist dreams.

The cloning idea that predicts the chances of replacement of human body is like giving humans the power to resurrect which is out of context and contradicts the Christian teachings that believes that it is only God the ‘Yahweh’ who has the power to resurrect people.

My family members all being Christians felt very offended by this proposition. This explained how one’s religion belief is very influential in determining one perception of the things or action that one interacts with.

From the proceeding discussion, it is apparent that different age groups possess diverse views concerning some of the issues that we face in our dairy activities. The research indicated that ethnicity, gender, religion and education featured as very important factors that determine how people perceive issues.

The older generation that is here represented by my dad is known to be more affected by gender stratification where they assign more importance to boys than to girls. My mother who belongs to the middle group does not suffer from gender stratification and appears to reason in similar manner to the youthful generation which is represented by my younger brother and sister.

Religion is noted as a strong factor that influences how people attach values to those things that they interact with which intern influences how they interpret situations. Religion beliefs are known as very strong forces that have resulted to very distinct decisions.

Education was also noted as an important ingredient factor that determines how we interpret situations. Education helps individuals become is noted in the discussion as bringing forth the enlightenment in society by equipping them with appropriate information and skills that help them make informed choices. My family members being all learned enabled them to address the posed questions appropriately.

Since they were all well knowledgeable and conversant with the topic about human cloning, they made their contributions and adequately defended their points with relevant backing. Therefore, education is an important factor in any society as it determines how individuals in that society perceives, expresses or reacts to diverse situations.

A society that is not well educated is associated with being ignorant and takes many things for granted, while an educated society is characterized with being well informed and employs very strategic approaches while dealing with its problems, without taking anything for granted.

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Human Cloning: Pros and Cons

• Speech analysis

The question of human cloning arose after the first cloning of an animal, namely the sheep Dolly. Since that time, scholars and scientists became interested in cloning of people. Human cloning could make fundamental changes in the development of transplantology and reproductive medicine. It may help infertile or unisexual couples create real families and have children. Moreover, single men or women could have genetically related descendants. Further, with the aid of cloning, scientists may create organs for people who need transplants. In addition, animal cloning could help produce new medicines and methods of treatment of serious diseases. However, many people argue that human cloning should not be allowed because of the negative consequences, which the cloned individuals would face. First, clones may run health risks and hazard of early death. Second, clones may feel like they are not unique and are only the copies of a human. Third, many people argue that cloning is immoral and unacceptable because person cannot create other humans in an artificial way. Though human cloning is of high importance for the evolution of science and medicine, it can be allowed only for creating transplants but not for producing people on account of ethical and moral principles.

Human cloning should be prohibited since it may be dangerous because of possible mistakes and deflections. For example, animal cloning had taken 277 tries to produce one cloned sheep (Ehlers 525). The first attempts ended with failures and defections. If to consider human cloning, the main victims of the experiments will be the children. In his article “The Case against Human Cloning,” Vernon J. Ehlers writes the following, “There would be a loss of many fetuses, and some babies would die shortly after birth” (525). It means that almost every initial experiment would end with failure. In such case, people have no right to hazard human’s health and life, even if they are sure that the risk is small. Nevertheless, there are those who would say that danger and risk are not the reasons for prohibiting human cloning. For instance, in the article “Cloning and the Preservation of Family Integrity,” David Orentlicher tells that such objections are temporary and cannot be the cause of banning the human cloning (1021). The author affirms that scientists would not allow cloning until they know that it is safe. However, one can argue that there could be unscrupulous doctors who would hide the information about the possible risks. Human cloning would always be connected with potential hazards. Nevertheless, there exists another thought that human cloning could be useful.

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Some scientists consider that cloning would help people who cannot give birth to children but want to have a genetically related child (Robertson 618). Human cloning is the best way to solve the problem of infertility. However, there are other methods, which are used in reproductive medicine and provide a natural process of birth. Among them are artificial fertilization, surrogate maternity, using of sperm or oocyte donors. In the last resort couples can adopt children. If all these methods are not acceptable, cloning could help but only in several cases. However, if it is allowed for some individuals and prohibited for others, discussions will arise. For this reason, cloning cannot be allowed.

There is one more reason for cloning. Many people could use clones for personal purposes such as producing a cloned baby for using his or her bones for their living child. Besides, some scholars could create clones and sell their organs. Of course, one cannot assert that it will necessarily happen; however, people are not perfect, and there would always be greedy and amoral individuals. Thus, if human cloning is allowed, the experiments can take too many lives, and it is unacceptable. In spite of possible advantages and benefits of human cloning, it cannot be allowed because the risks are too big, and people’s lives cannot be endangered, no matter whether they are born naturally or in an artificial way.

Human cloning should be forbidden because clones may suffer from the problem of non-identity. It means that cloned children may feel that they are different and not unique. They would not be born in a natural way like other children but would be produced with the help of cloning their parents’ or other people’s cells. Such children may be harmed by others at school; in turn, it may lead to various psychological and physical problems. They may become unsociable and the fear of ignorance may appear. The cloned children may be afraid of not knowing their origin and absence of genetic ties with one of their parents. Besides, cloned people may be discriminated because of social prejudices. They may feel like they are defective or worse than others. Nevertheless, David Orentlicher argues that people do not prize identity, and adolescents often suppose that it is “‘cool’ to look and be like their peers” (1023). Moreover, the scientist contends that it cannot be harmful to a child to be born as a non-identical individuality if the only alternative is not to be born at all (Orentlicher 1023). On the contrary, in their article “Human Cloning and Child Welfare,” Burley and Harris write that a clone will not have a life that is fully his or hers (110). They will live a life in the shadow of those who created them. Besides, a cloned person may feel guilty or dependent on their parents because owing to them, he or she came into this world. Some would say that children who were born naturally can have the same problems. However, one cannot compare a natural process of birth and artificial one. On the one hand, people who do not want children would not clone them, unlike those who have unwanted pregnancies, but on the other, parents could create children for personal purposes. The state would not be able to control the process of cloning and creating families with cloned children. That is why human cloning is not the best way to solve the problem of reproduction. Though social and psychological issues, faced by clones, are not as horrible as possible health problems, well-being of a person should be of a high priority.

The last and the most important reason to prohibit cloning is its immorality and interference in natural processes. Human beings are not Gods, and they cannot create other people as if they produce robots. Religious opponents believe that “there is a taboo against human beings possessing God’s power to create human life” and “cloning violates the sanctity of human life” (Shapiro, Long, and Gideon 26). Besides, human cloning may seem unmoral and unfair regarding other people. Human cloning may have a negative influence on the social structure. Ehlers writes, “I imagine that most of us are uncomfortable with the notion of our friends and neighbors creating designer children” (526). Many persons would agree with him because people are envious by nature, and they may judge others because of this feature. In addition, human beings may have prejudices against cloned people. They may consider clones to be defective or abnormal. Furthermore, another aspect emerges, i. e. some scholars argue that the problem of overpopulation or appearing a new “super race” may arise (Orentlicher 1026). However, Orentlicher denies this concern telling that it is impossible to create a new race of people because it will need at least twenty years of time and require many women to be surrogate mothers (1026). On the other hand, there is no assurance that scholars would not be able to make this process faster. If they were allowed to begin experiments with human cloning, they could do everything possible to get some benefits of it. Nevertheless, any intervention in nature may lead to unexpected results.

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Cloning could be an essential part of science and medicine development; however, human cloning is unacceptable in the view of ethics and morality. The attempts to clone animals showed that it is not safe, and that many problems and deflections can appear during the experiment. Nevertheless, animal cloning could help investigate new remedies and treatments for humans. From this perspective, cloning may be allowed, but only animals may be cloned. Human cloning should be prohibited because it contradicts the principles of morality. Every society should value human life and protect it from the risky experiments. If human cloning is not safe and can cause unforeseen outcomes, it must be forbidden. On the other hand, if scientists and scholars could use cloning for creating transplants, it may save lives of thousands of people. Taking into account the evidence mentioned above, the answer to the question whether to clone people or not may be contradictory. Thus, human cloning seems to be immoral, but when used in transplantology, it can be helpful for the doctors to save patients’ lives.

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Pros and Cons of Human Cloning

In 1997, scientists successfully cloned a sheep from an adult cell. This breakthrough in genetic technology sparked a heated debate regarding the moral, legal, and scientific viability of genetic cloning. Similarly, in 2017, scientists in China were able to clone two identical macaques. The concept of biological cloning means creating a full genetic copy of an individual or the tissue of a particular species. While cloning does exist in nature in the form of twins, the artificial process is a cause of emotive debate. Over the years, cloning technology has advanced to the point where humans cloning is a real possibility. Admittedly, human cloning presents certain scientific benefits that would positively impact the world. However, human cloning is challenged by significant moral and scientific barriers.

First, genetic cloning of humans stands out as a positive innovation that would positively benefit the world. The most prominent of these benefits include the capacity to alter the genetic make-up of individuals with genetic abnormalities. Forms of gene editing such as cloning are a way of eliminating defective genes and mutations thereby curing some genetic disorders (Savulescu, Pugh, Douglas, & Gyngell, 2015). Moreover, cloning technology has applications in therapeutic medicine where it can be used to aid procedures such as transplants as well as tissue damage repair. Based on research (Sachs, Mollica, & Bruno, 2017), cloning can radically enhance the success of these procedures. Most importantly, genetic cloning has significant relevance to reproductive health. For instance, infertile individuals can use technology to produce younger versions of themselves and eliminate the pain caused by infertility. Equally, there are outstanding scientific disadvantages of genetic cloning in humans.

Despite notable progress in genetic cloning technology, the process has had more failures than successes. According to Ayala (2015), genetic cloning attempts have higher rates of failure than success. For example, attaining a successful close would require damage to a large number of human embryos. Moreover, the risks associated with genetic cloning outweigh the benefits given that these failures come with the possibility of contaminating the human genome. Presently, animal studies show a high rate of failure. Given that there are still aspects of human cloning that are not understood by science, there is a likelihood of inadvertent outcomes that cannot be handled by science. For example, Ayala (2015) shows that cloning can result in unwanted genetic effects. Similarly, the fact that cloning uses the cells of an already-aged adult, it is possible that this age may be passed on to the clone creating the risk of complications such as early death. Moral complexities also form a major weak point for human cloning.

From a moral perspective, human cloning interferes with nature and the sanctity of life. Many opponents of human cloning argue that the artificial process of human cloning challenges the natural order of life. Typically, the process of procreation occurs mostly without the influence of human beings. Consequently, many human characteristics cannot be altered. However, with genetic cloning, it would be possible to pre-select the desired traits of an offspring. This issue becomes even more complicated when viewed from a religious viewpoint because it is considered to compromise the sanctity of human life (Allum et al., 2017). Subsequently, divisions would expand in society between clones and average human beings. In practice, these divisions would occur when parents discontented with normal children would clone new children with the hope of getting the perfect child.

As the technology of human cloning continues to advance, the divide between opponents and proponents is unlikely to narrow. Nonetheless, the reality that human cloning has both benefits and shortcomings cannot be disputed. Genetic cloning carries immense scientific benefits as well as dangers. Additionally, genetic cloning presents major moral issues that are not easy to resolve. Exploring the pros and cons of genetic cloning is one way of introducing some clarity and hopefully create some form of consensus

Allum, N., Allansdottir, A., Gaskell, G., Hampel, J., Jackson, J., Moldovan, A., & Stoneman, P. (2017). Religion and the public ethics of stem-cell research: Attitudes in Europe, Canada and the United States.  PloS one ,  12 (4), e0176274.

Ayala, F. J. (2015). Cloning humans? Biological, ethical, and social considerations.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ,  112 (29), 8879-8886.

Sachs, P. C., Mollica, P. A., & Bruno, R. D. (2017). Tissue-specific microenvironments: a key tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.  Journal of Biological Engineering ,  11 (1), 34.

Savulescu, J., Pugh, J., Douglas, T., & Gyngell, C. (2015). The moral imperative to continue gene editing research on human embryos.  Protein & Cell ,  6 (7), 476-479.

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Pros and Cons of Human Cloning

I have observed in my nineteen years of living that almost everyone in this society strives to be the same or like the popular culture. The average person is very materialistic, and strives for an appealing physical appearance. Artificiality is common in the popular culture. For example, dying of hair color, inserting color contacts, getting lyposuction, implants or removal of flaws on the body is prevalent. I strongly oppose human cloning primarily because I believe that humans already try to replicate themselves enough and having the same genes is not necessary. Plus, just because there may be two identical beings doesn’t mean that they will behave the same. In this essay will explain how cloning is achieved, the benefits and dangers of human cloning, address my views on genetic discrimination, policies that I suggest to prevent abuses of genetic engineering, and why an exact clone an never be carried out.

First, I will discuss how cloning is made possible. After several attempts, Professor Ian Wilmat and his partners successfully cloned “Dolly”. Cloning is a very intricate process and it requires special equipment and modern technology. To begin, a cell is removed from the organism that is going to be replicated, also known as the donor. The cell is extracted by an incision in the skin, a sample of blood or even a piece of the actual skin. Next, the second reproductive cell is taken from the female organism. The entire deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is removed from the nucleus. (DNA contains all the information of heredity.) A small a mount of DNA is also removed from the donors cell nucleus. At this time, the donors DNA is forced into the second cells nucleus. This allows the two cells to be synonymous in terms of genes and DNA. Fussion is used to combine the two cells. At this point the carrier must be found, if it is not already present. The carrier is the female that wishes or is willing to give birth to the cloned baby. In some cases however, the animals are given no chioce. Genitic engineers just insert the cells into the female animal and it will later give birth to a baby that was not naturally conceived. The cells are inserted by needle to the uterus and take on the natural process of splitting into two cells. The combination of the cells through high tech “surgery” and injection mimic the unforced process of creating a baby with the same exact genes of the donor.

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Secondly, I will discuss the pro’s and con’s of human cloning. I have found very few benefits of cloning, are over ridded by the drawbacks and con’s. The beneficial aspect of cloning is the concept that an exact replica of the donor will be alive and existing in the same manner, physically. If duplicates of animals are conceived than it will largely benefit the science world. Animals will be used in experimentation. Most likely the animal will be subjected to a disease or a unpleasant state. Cancer, cystic fibrosis, burns and neurodegeneration would be applied to the victims and studied. The trial of new therapies and treatments would be given to the animals, so that it can help out the humans. If animals were cloned, their body parts or blood could be transplanted into human bodies if needed. In fact, animals could be created to have highly sustainable organs just for transplants. Another illustration is, it appears to be great to know that you have a clone. You would have another you, younger, to use for the replacement of organs and body parts. Suppose you were in a tragic car accident, and you lost both of your arms, and damaged several vital organs. This would be a misfortune on your part, and it would be hard to find a donor or available to supply these parts immediately. Well, if you had a clone, I would be certain that someone had the exact match of everything! The same blood, and physical characteristics. What a convenience! Another positive aspect of human cloning would be the concept that a wonderful person could be replicated! For example, why wouldn’t we want another Robin Williams, (the famous comedian/actor). Everyone seems to enjoy his screen personality and enlightening remarks. Or Tom Cruise, he is a great person to remake. He is very handsome and he has a great physique! A person that is desirable or known for their distinguished talents is excellent to have double of. Next, human cloning is a breakthrough for couples who desire to have a baby and naturally can’t reproduce. A baby can be manufactured, in the lab. Plus the parents have an option of who the baby will be a twin of. Imagine the pleasure that a couple may get from this baby they can call their own. Scientists may believe that they can instantly produce a perfect animal. There is a definite plus to cloning. Saving endangered species.

In change, there are many drawbacks to human cloning. Basically, human cloning costs a lot. It costs a lot of money, lives, and moral and spiritual decay. The money that it costs to clone humans is outrageously expensive. Equipment that is necessary in the lab is very high-priced. The amount of money that is dedicated to research and experimentation is phenomenal. The development of the perfect laboratory setting is a great investment as well. I would say that the lives that are lost in the attempts to clone a human being are priceless. Money is not a consideration, when precious life in threat or destroyed. A life that is lost due to experimentation is a tragedy in my eyes. Regardless if you are a mouse, if one dies in the result of a science experiment it is simply horrible. When the cloning is not successful, 95% of the time, mutations and diseases are present in the product of experimentation. The cost of losing moral beliefs is irreplaceable as well. It has been proven that morals are disappearing as the twentieth century rushes to a close. People have lost faith and they do not create personal guidelines and rules as keenly as they may have in the past. It is not morally right to reproduce a life artificially. I believe that god created us, and put us on the earth. Scientists who plan on out doing god, and creating such a divine creature are utterly egotistical. They must feel pretty prestigious! It is disgruntling the amount of decay in morality is at stake in this issue. Nature is superior to all. Creating an artificial copy of a priceless life is not right in any shape or form. All spirituality is lost in this cruel act of diverging two tangible organisms forcibly. It is uncertain when our spirit is connected to our bodies but it seems that a spirit may not be as pure and genuine in a fake representation of a human. Although, there is no passage in the Holy Bible that mentions whether cloning is ethically right or wrong, it doesn’t need to be written. It is something that was never intended.

Thirdly, I believe that there is possibility in our society for genetic discrimination related to experimentation for “harmful genes” if cloning was a reality. It seems that every thing that ever existed or was created is susceptible to discrimination. Once human cloning is made possible, and genetic engineers can achieve a successful twin, (that is free of mutation etc.) then they will try so hard to make a perfect person. They will avoid harmful genes like those that promote a slight threat in longevity or kinks in the life span. Genetic engineers could definitely find people with a great record of heredity. It is the quest for the perfect, healthy being ever.

Fourthly, I have suggestions of policies that would prevent abuses of genetic engineering. Federal money should be not allowed to be spent on the research for cloning humans. Scotland was the first country in the world to oppose spending of federal money on the study of human cloning. Scotland’s government set an example for the rest of the world by making such an agreement. They took responsibility in not getting involved with this outlandish scientific experiment. The second country to ban federal spending for these purposes was the United States. I believe that these countries should encourage other nations to join them in the refusal of this sort of education. Limits should be declared on the frequency of cloning. Laws should be made to regulate cloning or simply make it illegal.

Lastly, an exact copy of a cloned animal can never be obtained. A life is not a toy or a puzzle that can be put together. Life is not a picture that can be traced or re-copied . Life is highly complex, and undeniably irreplaceable. A cloned person will not have the right to think on it’s own. Those who create the clone will severely brain wash the subject and treat it much differently than you and I. The clone will be expected to behave similar to the donor and that is a immense amount of pressure. The clone will virtually have it’s life lived already, by the donor. The twin will have an unfair chance at life as anyone as we know it. There is no possible way that a clone could lead a regular life. It’s environment will be extremely different than the donors. The environment can not be re-created for the replica no matter how hard one has attempted. The parents would always be acting and not living in reality. Although, some day a human can be reproduced to look exactly the same as someone else physically, behavior is uncertain, and they are not programmed to live the same life. Time is another issue. The events that occur in society are not going to be equivalent from one generation to another (assuming the clone is born a different day, or year that the donor was/did). It is virtually impossible to make an exact duplicate of a person.

All in all, I oppose human cloning because it violates moral and ethical codes. I described how cloning is carried out, the pro’s and con’s with genetic engineering of mammals and humans., the potential for genetic discrimination, policies I suggest to prevent abuses of human cloning, and why cloning a human exactly like it’s donor is impossible.

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