The Great Human Embryo Clone Hype
Abstract: The cloning of human embryos has sparked a major debate worldwide. New cloning methods have surpassed the technology that could only duplicate specified genes or produce offspring from frozen mice and human embryos. Cloning has been used to free would-be sufferers from a particular disease carrying gene. Likewise, out of desire to assist infertile couples and overcome the drawbacks of using in-vitro fertilization, came the newest method of cloning. Although skepticism exists because of the lack of regulation and the extreme possibilities considered such as cloning for hair and eye color or for a particular gender, with proper regulation, researchers and doctors intend to embrace this
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Why stop now? Although there have been various arguments proposed against the use of any cloning techniques, there are healthcare issues that validate the use of cloning procedures.
Controversy has developed from the fear of how cloning will be used. Since the late 1980's cloning techniques have been used to identify certain genes that cause disease. The primary work of the 'Human Genome Project' was to develop three research tools that will allow scientists to identify genes involved in both rare and common disease (Collins, 1995). These gene identification tools are what researchers call positional cloning.
Positional cloning techniques are used to identify genes based solely on their location within the subject's total genetic material or genome. There is no prior knowledge of the genes function within the region of which the gene is identified. Positional cloning techniques for confirming the role of susceptible genes rely on sufficient prior understanding of the disease process to implicate possible disease-related genes. The three tools involved in positional cloning are 1) The Physical Map (Figure 1), 2) The Genetic Map (Figure 2), and 3) The Sequence Map of the DNA nucleotide (Figure 3) . Each tool allows for better focus on the gene being located. As Figure 1 illustrates, whole chromosomes are cut into large fragments of DNA and then cloned. Then cloned DNA pieces are realigned in the order in which they originally occurred in the chromosomes and
. . concerns can be addressed when reproductive cloning has been shown to be safe in animals, which it has not yet." (Paulson) The success rate by means of reproductive cloning remains pale in comparison to natural procreation, and thus does not justify cloning as a form of procreation for the time being. The current success rate for reproductive cloning stands at one or two viable offspring per 100 experiments, and until the success rate drastically increases, cloning humans would be potentially dangerous and unethical.
The 21st century however forecasts an astonishing increase in innovation in another direction. While previously overshadowed by its larger cousins, physics and chemistry, it seems likely that the biological sciences will steal the limelight in the future. Mapping the genome, reversing the aging process, and finding a cure for terminal illnesses, all represent primary objectives for science. Unfortunately, the ethical questions posed by innovations in biomedicine are far greater than those posed by advances in the physical sciences. Reproductive cloning is one of these innovations, and one that arguably poses the greatest threat to the world as we know it. The universal truth, blindly accepted by man for millennia, held that a human could only be born through the sexual union of a male and a female, to be exact, of an egg and a sperm. By cloning, however, a human life can be created in the laboratory. This is done by taking human DNA and inserting it into an egg cell, sans genetic material. The resultant cell is identical to the original, and can then be inserted into a uterus, either a human or an animal one, and be grown to term, to produce a baby, while circumventing nature’s means of reproduction.
Cloning is “the creation of exact copies of a gene, cell, or entire organism” (“Cloning”). Many objects can be cloned such as plants and cells. The topic of cloning becomes controversial when the focus is toward humans. It is evident that cloning of other species and organisms is possible. Because of this, the thought of human cloning has arisen in the science community within the previous few centuries. According to a poll produced by Time Magazine, ninety-three percent of American’s are opposed to human cloning (“Human Cloning”). This proves that the advancement of this topic has developed far beyond our wisdom. If nearly one hundred percent of the population disagrees with even the idea of this experiment, it is evident that they are unaware of the ways in which this technology has advanced. Furthermore, this unpredictable outcome of cloning will be irreversible. “Whatever effects cloning might have, cloning would be like opening Pandora’s Box, because there would be no way to turn back once the technology was developed and in use” (“Human Cloning”). As has been noted, the science of human cloning is not yet understood therefore it has advanced far too quickly for society to
People base their arguments concerning cloning off of norms, and with that, they ignore the possible benefits of this technology. Cloning technology may possibly benefit us in a lot of ways. It could potentially be used to reverse heart attacks, infertility, treat defective genes, and treat brain damage such as Alzheimer and Parkinson. With all the benefits behind this technology, reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning should be legalized for research, experiments, and future use.
The controversy of human cloning has contemplated the reasons it should or shouldn't be allowed. Human cloning is the reproduction of human cells and tissue by creating a genetical copy artificially. Clones contain original characteristics of the individual or cell. There are many dangerous risks and great benefits to human cloning. Many people have an extraordinary reaction to cloning because it creates all sorts of images. Cloning is a medical breakthrough that can help millions of people if it is scientifically proven to be 100% safe. Is science really ready to officially clone a human?
Cloning and genetically modifying humans is now more attainable than ever due to strides made by science. With a relatively short history, cloning and genetic engineering have been a new concept for many people in society with the first proof of cloning being dolly the sheep, the first successful clone born by the somatic cell nuclear-transfer procedure [1]. Cloning over the years has evolved and now could be used to someday help people requiring organ transplants, recover from traumatic injuries and aid infertile couples with its reproductive possibilities [4].
As years pass, new discoveries are made through extensive research. These discoveries improve the life expectancy of humans, due to the continuous advancements in medical research and equipment. Infact, a main controversial aspect of medicine that has blown minds is said to be cloning. Cloning is the process of creating a genetic duplicate of an organism. It is divided into two branches: reproductive and therapeutic. Reproductive cloning creates an animal genetically identical to its donor, where it is then placed back into the uterine environment for further development. Therapeutic cloning on the other hand is quiet similar in the sense of formation. However, the resulting cloned cells remain in a lab and are not to be inserted into a female uterus to be nurtured into a fetus. These cells are instead used to treat and prevent diseases and conditions. Over time scientists have put forth all their knowledge and research into creating their very first fully cloned animal. But, until this day, “observers say that no reputable scientist is actively attempting to produce a human clone through reproductive cloning.” (“The Science of Cloning”,1) This procedure remains to be an issue worldwide due to the harm it carries along to reach its beneficial goal.
Cloning has opened the doors and provided optional ways to resolve various world problems. Right now, cloning is being used for many purposes in improving the lives of the people, especially therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Therapeutic cloning is leading to find new treatments or cures for common diseases that are affecting people around the world, while the goal of reproductive cloning allows people to produce things that died to help seek redress for their losses, and the idea of cloning more things can be used to serve difficult tasks in the world. Not only that, cloned animals are used for their organs to replace damaged parts of a human body. The science of cloning can lead to many unknown consequences; however, we should not consider
Cloning, an ethical issue that has been pressed across the globe, has become a substantial debate throughout a majority of nations. The incorporation of a new type of reproduction in the United States has a plentiful amount of benefits for certain animals and objects, but duplicates of humans is hard to comprehend for many people across America. Currently, cloning is an interesting topic that could become a new way to improve reproduction of animals and humans, prevent diseases, and increase the overall health of Americans.
Therapeutic cloning may be helpful for preventing diseases, research in this area of therapeutic cloning is still being performed.
Cloning Dolly, the sheep in 1996 was a momentous moment in scientific history. Scientists removed the nucleus from one of Dolly 's skin cells and engineered an egg to be insert with then nucleus. This egg could have fertilized in a mothers ' uterus. Following this discovery, mice, pigs and cattle have been cloned based on the same concept. In 2012, a group of scientists took cloning a step further and cloned human embryos. With great certainty, human cloning will be banned by the government due to human rights. The government has already deemed it illegal to fund human cloning projects. Despite the human rights issue, cloning serves a great role in research. These cloned embryos will help understand the biological nature of human cells and the human body. Also the embryos will help advance medical treatments for a wide variety of diseases. Cloning is vital to genetic engineering. Problems do arise from such an advancement. Exploration of women would be a major issue due to the fact that these cloned embryos need to be implanted into a women 's ' uterus in order to under go gestation. Almost all scientific developments pose positive and negative outcomes.
The science behind human therapeutic cloning as already experienced widespread use. It has been used in areas such as agriculture, the production of medical products and organs, research on human diseases, regeneration
According to Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, the term “cloning” is defined as “a procedure for producing multiple copies of genetically identical organisms or cells or of individual genes.” Researchers have conducted several cloning experiments over the years, replicating tissues, organs, and even full organisms such as Dolly the Sheep in 1997. The history of cloning dates back to the early 1900’s when Hans Adolf Edward Dreisch studied the results of separating two-celled sea urchin embryos (“The History of Cloning”). The process has since evolved and become a process that is widely talked about amongst doctors, scientists and the general public. The process of cloning has been predicted to play a significant role in medical advancements in the near future. The main areas of which cloning could potentially affect are treatments for various diseases through organ replacement and infertility. As many topics in science, controversy exists regarding the subject of cloning in addition to its’ advantages and disadvantages.
Many ethical and moral dilemmas arise when discussing human cloning, and one can have many positions for and against each. To understand the issues surrounding human cloning, one must have a basic
Scientific experimentation has led us to many great discoveries such as: Chemotherapy, heart surgery, and bone marrow transplants. Recently scientists have discovered a new way to heal humans. This is known as cloning. Although they have yet to clone a human they have cloned sheep. Cloning has brought up a huge controversy among the American people. There are two sides to the story. Either you agree with cloning or you don’t. The only way to help make that decision is to look at the good and bad points of cloning.