Introduction:
In 2003 the Pyrenean Ibex, an extinct subspecies, was successfully cloned and brought back to life albeit only for a few minutes (Zimmer, 2015.) Thus bringing the idea of cloning extinct species itself to life. Newton (2015) shows that in animals cloning is achieved by transplanting the nucleus of one animal into an enucleated egg cell of another. Cloning has become more precise and increasingly common in our rapidly progressing society (Newton, 2015) however from this a debate as to whether these technologies should be used to clone and bring back extinct animals has arisen. A central reason as to why this causes such a large debate is due to the apparent defiance of nature that is occurring (Zimmer, 2015.) There are many arguments
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Possible Environmental Effects:
Proponents for the cloning of extinct species argue that by reintroducing them into their past habitat they will fill the niche they left behind and positively affect the ecosystem. For example the passenger pigeon once travelled in huge flocks and in doing so caused forest disturbances, leading to forest regeneration. As these disturbances now no longer occur on a regular basis by reintroducing the pigeon into these areas the forest will be positively affected and biodiversity will increase. (The Great Passenger Pigeon comeback n.d.)
However Sherkow and Greely (2013) point out in the years since its extinction the ecosystem and human activity levels where the passenger pigeon was once found have dramatically changed and could easily lead to the reintroduction of the bird causing damage and even being seen as a pest. Additionally as animals became extinct because of changes to the environment, either natural or human, there is a high chance that the animal will once more become extinct if reintroduced to the same environment (Zimmer,
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Michael Archer believes that as a society we have a duty to animals that became extinct due to direct human impacts (Zimmer 2013.)
When the extinct Pyrenean Ibex was successfully cloned the newborn kid died in minutes due to lung deformities causing breathing issues (Gray & Dobson 2009.) A 2013 study of cloned piglets led to the findings that of the piglets born 48 % died in their first month and 29.5% of them exhibited malfunctions (Schmidt et al 2015.) From this the issue of a cloned animal’s welfare is raised showing that unless technologies advance significantly there is a high risk of suffering and death for such animals (Sherkow & Greely 2013.)
Another ethically problematic area is that of money, by cloning extinct species large profits may be made off of the animals, especially well-known ones, from things such as donations and private funding (Cottrell et al 2014.) This would allow the animals to be treated well and for further cloning efforts. However this leads to the issue of money being spent in the wrong places for the wrong reasons, where as it could be better spent on conserving the many species at current risk of extinction (Four reasons against de-extinction
back extinct animals is very controversial but we need to bring them back to restore ecosystems
There are some people that have been very anxious with cloning because they believe it is something new, but in reality it was introduced in the 1950s. It started with cloning food and has moved onto cloning animals. It has been successful on many different cases and a famous one is the cloning of a sheep named Dolly. Dolly lived to be six and a half years old and she had six kids. People believe that cloning should be illegal but we believe that scientists should clone endangered or extinct species in order to preserve them, here’s why.
Some supporters of de-extinction believe it to be reasonable for reviving recently extinct species as a last resort in their conservation. However, it is a common belief among critics that it is of greater import to protect endangered species and reduce human impact so as to prevent extinction. Shapiro, a supporter of de-extinction, argues that de-extinction should not compete for funding with measures for protection of endangered species. However, she argues that both extinct and extant species have valuable roles in maintenance of the ecosystem (2015, p. 195). In the same paper, she admits that fears for an increase in the rate of extinction are valid for
De-extinction, the revival of extinct species through cloning, has reasons for and against it. However, the Point argument supporting it was better because it explained how reviving these species would not only be beneficial in that area of studies, but in science and the world as a whole. There are many reasons stated for this, including the repairing of Earth and the expansion of human knowledge and capabilities.
The invention of cloning has multiple positive outcomes to not only the inventors, but also to society. Cloning allows scientists to have a better understanding of cells through genetic research. This leads to not only a better comprehension of genes, but also “better research on diseases and how to prevent them” ( Pros and Cons of Cloning). At the same time, cloning benefits organisms such as animal and plant life. From this invention, endangered animals or plants can be cloned to save the species. “The invention of cloning can save organisms close to extinction” (Pros and Cons of Cloning). In the near future, cloning may “advance to allow pigs to grow replacement organs for human use in transplant surgeries”(Uses of Cloning) . This invention will also one day allow same sex couples to create their own children through cloning . These advancements will be both a medical and scientific breakthrough for mankind. As cloning advances, it may be able to save and create lives through gene research, duplication of organs, and adaptation of embryos for human use.
Is that if we have some type of DNA of that animal we could do the same process that they use to clone animals and that will clone that animal that is extinct and they could reproduce more animals.Then they will be able to protect them and there won't be that much extinct animals.The process that they use is called interspecies nuclear transfer and that is what they call it when they clone an endangered animal.They way that it works is the same way they clone any other living thing
Human beings have a responsibility to act morally just, not causing any being unnecessary pain and suffering. Which is exactly what animal cloning has been causing these animals. To better understand how these animals are suffering, one needs to have a better understanding on how the natural reproduction process works. Genes from both hosts are transferred in random order to the new cell. Each specific allele or trait has a specific place on the stand of DNA, this assures everything need to create another being is represented. The female body then provides nutrition and safety for the growing being. If the cell has errors in the new DNA, or the host body cannot provide adequate support for the developing embryo then the body naturally aborts the embryo. With cloning only one set of DNA is being transferred into the egg, which provides the exact replica of the already established being. But this embryo is then planted into a different host body to provide nutrition and safety as it is developing. The problem with this is that the embryo is foreign to the host body. Just like foreign germs entering into the body, an immune responsive is automatically activated. Because of this immune response the success rates for these implanted embryos is less than 10% (Riddle). Therefore, more than 90% of all implanted hosts will suffer from a miscarriage. This could lead to dangerous complications for this animal, in severe cases death. Another issue lies with the cloned animal itself, a large amount of these clones are born with obvious physical deformities, gigantism, or do not have fully developed crucial organs such as the heart or lungs (Riddle). Child birth is difficult enough, but now by adding gigantism to the equation, the statistics for a successful
This century to scientist is one for action. Acting on the wrongs we as humans have done to the environment, many would say preservation is key. There is continuous organizations working on preserving on the animals like WWF, along with foundations to help maintain the fossil fuels humans emit into the atmosphere. With the new technology leading the way many scientific advantages that once seemed impossible are now in reach, like de-extinction. The question today isn’t if de-extinction is even possible, but if we should even do it at all. Beth Shapiro, is a molecular biologist that is currently working on the process of de-extinction, “de-extinction is exhilarating and terrifying,” Shapiro stated in an interview. Shapiro is also an associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary
Cloning cures genetic diseases that are currently incurable. If you clone a living thing, the replication of the living thing would have been cleared of its diseases. First you must produce an embryo through vitro fertilization, a complicated series of procedures used to investigate
Many Americans do not understand how risky it will be to clone a human, not to mention how hard it is to clone an animal. Many news article and publications offer this information to the public, because many scientists will not address the media with the real facts. In an article titled, “Creator of cloned sheep, Dolly, says he wouldn’t want to make copies of humans”, Dr. Wilmut stresses that only 1-5% of those embryos used in cloning result in live animals, and survivors are plagued with obesity, kidney problems and other troubles, and even Dolly is suffering from arthritis (1). Most cloned animals, like cows, pigs, goats, sheep, die during embryonic development, and others are stillborn with monstrous abnormalities. Bloated mothers have laborious miscarriages, and occasionally die themselves. The clones usually struggle for air in intensive care units, only to have to be euthanized, the process of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, according to an MSNBC article titled, “Much confusion over cloning” (1). The risks and uncertainties associated with the current technological state of cloning are the basis for why
Cloning is a vital technology that humanity should strive to perfect, despite the many obstacles it currently faces in development and application. Approximately 100 species become extinct a day. Among them are flora and fauna that could hold the cures for cancer, HIV, or any other disease. Cloning technology could preserve and restore these vitally important animals. As of now, the technology is far from usable. Most experiments have resulted in the death of the cloned embryo. However, a few have yielded incredible results. Sheep, mice, and dogs have been successfully cloned and are the first steps towards a huge advancement in biology. However, the advent of cloning is not without opposition. Many believe that the cloning of animals is unethical and of humans taboo. (Hartl) The protesting of stem cell research has already caused enough problems for researchers, and they expect many more when cloning becomes commonplace.
Cloning has many shortcomings. First, the organisms have a shorter life span and are more susceptible to contracting one to several diseases. These diseases can lead to a lower quality of life for the organism. Also, cloned offspring are very likely to contract "Large Offspring Syndrome”, which is a syndrome in which the offspring is significantly larger than the normal breed (Rantala, 103). Cloning is not natural, it is costly, and it is a
Cloning for the purpose of helping species who are endangered because of human pollution and hunting is somewhat ethical. Being able to clone an endangered species does not give humans the right to keep destroying the environment and should be used to help reverse the damage already caused by lack of human knowledge and care.
In 1997, the first primate was created by embryonic cell nuclear transfer. The scientist Li Meng, John Ely, Richard Stouffer, and Don Wolf, fused an early stage embryonic cell with an enucleated monkey egg cells using electrical shock. The embryos were then implanted into a surrogate. Out of 29 cloned embryos, two monkeys were born. The female was named Neti and the male was named Ditto (“The History of Cloning” par. 25-26). This experiment showed that primates, which are the closest relatives to humans, can be cloned. Which gives scientist a good model to continue to research cloning, to find more cures for disorders and diseases. In 2001 Pasqualino Loi of the University of Teramo in Italy and his colleagues, recovered cells from the ovaries of two female mouflons and injected their nuclei into a sheep egg cells that had their nuclei removed. This resulted into a baby mouflon (“The History of Cloning” par. 30-31). This allows scientist to continue to explore cloning as a way to create animals belonging to endangered or extinct species. In 2009, using goats as egg donors and surrogates a team of scientist led by Alberto Fernandez, cloned the first extinct animal, a Spanish mountain goat called the Bucardo (“The History of Cloning” par. 30-31). Even though the survived gestation died soon after birth, this achievement showed to scientist that it is possible to cloned extinct species and it could work for another species.
The question to clone or not to clone is currently center stage of scientific debate. Since the birth of Dolly, the sheep, in 1997 the controversial question of cloning has been paramount throughout the entire globe. The question is no longer whether it can be done, but whether is should be done and to what extent. We have already cloned goats, mice, monkeys, cattle, and pigs (Cloning fact sheet). Scientists are now trying to get approval to clone humans or at least parts of them (Eccleston, CNN). All of these clonings have led to much criticism and controversy, but the latest attempt at cloning is that of endangered and possibly already extinct species in hopes of preserving them. This short paper