The Cost of Human Cloning: A Threat to Individuality and Diversity
Have we as a society come too far too fast? This is a very applicable question recently asked by senator Roger Bennett, from Michigan, before the Senate on the topic of human cloning. It is speculated that we as a human race have the technology to make a clone of any given human (Jackson 2). If this is done, at what cost is it done? If cloning is allowed it will come at the cost of misguided effort, the creation of a process known as gene selection, and loss of individuality and diversity.
What cost would there be to make a clone of a human being? One cost can be explored from a monetary standpoint. It is estimated by the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
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Many lives could be saved if half of the effort of cloning a human was put forth in feeding the hungry, clothing the cold or educating the under privileged.
What would be the cost if cloning would be allowed in wide scale program? It is theorized that if cloning would be legalized that it would create the massive problem of gene selection (Jackson 4). Many parents in modern society would do anything and spend any amount of money to give their child an advantage in life. With the introduction of cloning it would be possible to genetically alter a child’s genes to create a more perfect child (Jackson 4). This raises entirely new moral question outside of cloning in general. Is it right to alter a child’s genes in an effort to make them “perfect.” It is also believed that genetic selection would create a new type of crime and problems (Jackson 6). One can assume that with the introduction of gene selection there would be a new “black-market” of the genes of athletes, movie stars and models.
What would be the cost of cloning on human diversity? Dr. McCormack the chairman of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs was recently quoted as saying that, “evolution relies on the continual mixing and matching of genes to keep the gene pool alive.” If cloning was allowed to happen than in theory the gene pool would be come more and more restricted. An example of this can be seen with a look back in history at Albert Einstein. Where would the human race lie today
Some people actually say that we can benefit from cloning. Scientists think that we can clone “geniuses” and advance in society (Utah Genetics). This brings up a very good point. What if we can clone 5 Albert Einsteins?! What if we clone all of the smartest minds to ever exist. Can we cure cancer? I think we can! Maybe we can even stop ebola. Lots of people are seriously thinking about this and how beneficial it would be. But some people can take this out of hand. Some scientists are considering making “human farms” where clones are made and their only purpose is to kill them and take their organs to sell. This is why cloning should not be easily accessible. Some freaky scientists are actually considering this idea. We need to be smarter, we need to be consistent , and we need to keep an eye out for these crazy scientists. And God knows what other crazy idea they have inside their heads. But many people think that cloning can be beneficial to society if it is used
I am writing to address the problem I have with cloning. Therapeutic and Reproductive cloning is a waste of money and time. Why would you pay fifty thousand american dollars to clone something or someone that won’t be an exact copy? Every person or animal in the world is made for a reason, so why make a clone if you’re one of a kind.
Imagine if you lived in a world where everyone was the same and had no physical differences. Everyone would have the exact same DNA. There would be no diversity within the population. If we continue to clone then this may be a possibility for the future. As of now there have been no cloned humans, but we are not too far away from being able to do so. Scientists have been cloning since as early as 1886, and have been cloning animals since 1996 with the birth of Dolly the sheep. Dolly the sheep was created by using reproductive cloning which is used to produce copies of whole animals (Cloning Fact Sheet NHGRI). Furthermore, there are two other types of cloning; therapeutic cloning and gene cloning. Therapeutic cloning is used to produce embryonic stem cells for medical research (Cloning Fact Sheet NHGRI). Gene cloning is used to produce copies of genes or segments of DNA (Cloning Fact Sheet NHGRI). Cloning should not be allowed because it is inhumane and unethical, results in more failure than it does results, and is unfeasible.
Reproductive cloning could also be abused by people who want to create genetically superior children. Using reproductive cloning you could clone the world’s greatest athletes and geniuses. As crazy as it sounds, this would open up the door to future possibilities of a world where genetic discrimination is the norm like in the movie GATTACA.
Cloning is very unethical. It would be violating the human rights in many ways. It would be violating of the freedom of beliefs and thoughts (Peter Flaherty, and D. Lynn Moore. Civics. McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2000) Cloning also reduces human dignity. Humans can be sold as manufactured products. If we allow
Another supplementary argument can be made on the topic of medical advancements made possible through the cloning process, mankind will be provided with organs and cells with which human’s lives will be saved. If a person needs an organ transplant the normal means of transplantation would involve the removal of an organ from another person. This organ could be rejected and many complications could arise, often with deadly repercussions. Human cloning would involve using the person’s own cells that could be cloned to produce a healthy, normal organ for use in the person. Through this process, there would be no
While there appears to be many advantages for the continuation of cloning research, there are other drawbacks that may negatively impact the society in the future. Cloning may reduce genetic variability by producing populations that have the same genetic make-up. This population would be susceptible to the same diseases and could potentially be wiped out by a single strain of virus. Such a result could be catastrophic and devastate entire nations. Cloning in human would inevitably lead to testings on human subjects and genetic tailoring of offspring. It is plausible that scientists could alter genetic coding to produce a baby with desirable traits resulting in a ‘perfect human’ with heightened senses and sub-normal intelligence. There have been no occurrences to
There are some scientist and the public that concluded that human cloning would aid in the progress of genetic knowledge and human advancement. In John Harris article, Is gene Therapy a Form of Eugenics?, he brings forth the issue of disabilities. He advocates that if we have the genetic means to create people free of disabilities, then gene therapy eugenics should be allowed. This would be a form of reproductive cloning. John Harris wrote, “It is not that the genetically weak should be discouraged from reproducing but that everyone should be discouraged from reproducing children who will be significantly harmed by their genetic constitution.” 3 This would insure people with genetic defects to have health children. Even in Dan Brock’s essay he points out the positive positions on the benefits of cloning for genetic reasons. He admits that even though cloning is not the natural way for reproduction, it could lead to some good things genetically. Cloning technology could also teach doctors how to renew damaged cells by growing new cells and replacing them. The study of cell differentiation could be enhanced by studying the development of a clone. Cloning could be used to produce extra human organs or prevent hereditary diseases. This process even could be capable of reproducing someone who died to help alleviate the pain of loss. In a bigger aspect, some of our most talented people or genius could be recreated like Mozart or Einstein. However, as Brock brings his essay
What if someone stood right in front of you? They had the same exact; eye color, hair color, hair style, and face. Would you say that it's you? Science has already cracked animal cloning and human cloning is just next in line. However, many people say we shouldn’t cross that line and for very good reason. With human cloning comes many problems. For example, clones may not be able to fit in with society. For the longest time, African Americans were not seen as equal to whites and some people still don’t accept them. For example, the KKK have been known to show this belief in an extreme way. Now, you want humans to accept something else they may not completely understand. Essentially, the course of humanity’s future rests on your decision to sign the bill or not. However, human cloning is a bad idea.
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?
Diversity diminishes, and the human population decreases. It shifts the process of natural evolution. For hundreds of generations, our ancestors developed through a gradual process of changes from their ability to compete, survive, and reproduce. By hindering this process our specie will suffer. The negative outcomes are far greater than the positives. Maybe cloning can and will allow for possible answers for diseases and cures, however it still interferes with the natural order of life; the human life-cycle. We must put into consideration the time and money spent on the experiment with the cloned lamb. After years of several failed attempts prior to creating Dolly, can we, as humans, walk with a clean conscious knowing the amount of safety and harm caused toward a developing child-clone and those involved in the process (DNA holder, scientists, etc.)? This paints a clear picture of how cloning a human will be far more difficult, dangerous, and unethical. As a mother, I strongly oppose of this idea due to the consequences of how we, as a society will view these cloners, and how these cloners will affect my children’s lives. Will my children lead a normal life if they are deemed having a weak and undesirable DNA? Undoubtedly, a loss of individuality and diversity is created. Our genetic make-up is what makes us unique. It gives an individual a sense of self and distinctiveness. Eventually, the population starts to lack uniqueness. Two people wouldn’t be sitting down having a conversation on their diverse backgrounds, rather everyone else will have almost the same thoughts and ideas. How can a society grow and learn about all the
While some believe cloning to be acceptable others feel equally strongly that human cloning is completely wrong. With the state of the science as it is at the moment it would involve hundreds of damaged pregnancies to achieve one single live cloned baby. What is more, all the evidence suggests that clones are unhealthy and often have a number of built-in genetic defects, which lead to premature ageing and death. It would be completely wrong to bring a child into the world knowing that it was extremely likely to be affected by problems like these. The dignity of human life and the genetic uniqueness we all have would be attacked if cloning became commonplace. People might be
If a random individual were asked twenty years ago if he/she believed that science could clone an animal, most would have given a weird look and responded, “Are you kidding me?” However, that once crazy idea has now become a reality, and with this reality, has come debate after debate about the ethics and morality of cloning. Yet technology has not stopped with just the cloning of animals, but now many scientists are contemplating and are trying to find successful ways to clone human individuals. This idea of human cloning has fueled debate not just in the United States, but also with countries all over the world. I believe that it is not morally and ethically right
Some politicians in the United States are now proposing to save us from the horrors of human cloning by a comprehensive prohibition. The interesting thing is that under close analysis there really aren't any serious problems. In the few cases where abuses are likely to occur, these can be avoided by targeted legislation. There is nothing about human cloning per se that justifies its criminalization. The only objection that stands up under analysis is that the technology has not been perfected. This is a justification for further research, not for a prohibition.
Beginning with the moral argument, one must understand reproductive freedom. Most cloning activists say that reproduction, or the lack there of, is a natural freedom given to people (C). Restricting human cloning would be a violation of that right. Just as people can choose not to reproduce using contraception, abortion, or abstinence, people should be allowed to use all means possible within their ability to reproduce, such as through cloning and in vitro fertilization (C). Cloning is the application of this right specifically (C). Another benefit of cloning is the ability to clone someone who has died to console those who are grieving over their lost loved one or to clone the DNA of a person that was known for his of her greatness. Scientists would be able to recreate these people in a new environment (C). A clone's parent may have come from