Noah's Ark vs. Jurassic Park
As the human population of the world continues to increase the flora and fauna of the planet are becoming an increasingly smaller part of the picture. Environmentalist and conservationists all over the globe are working hard to find strategies and methods for the preservation of disappearing creatures and species. An increasingly popular idea that would allow for great benefits in the field of conservation became apparent in 1996 with the cloning of sheep by the name of Dolly. Since then the scientific debate on the relationship between cloning and conservation has ensued. Although the answer to that question remains on the horizon, cloning for helping endangered species is a process that may become a frequent procedure in the future.
When one thinks of cloning generally the first idea that pops into your mind is a large tube filled with some creature attached to a lot of tubes. Cloning actually, is a much more complicated and difficult process. Cloning, scientifically defined is, "asexual reproduction or as the creation of genetically identical individuals" (1). In the cloning process the DNA of one individual creature is "copied" into the cell, or embryo, of another and then that embryo develops into a baby and proceeds down the process of birth and embryological development. Currently, many scientists believe that if the DNA of endangered species is rescued and preserved that the DNA of that species could undergo the cloning process and thus produce a clone of that species. The results of this cloning process would be enormous or it "will open a new front in the battle to preserve the Earth's biodiversity by cloning endangered gorillas, tigers and other rare species" (2). Cloning of endangered species would be a monumental achievement for the scientific community. Many people when they think of cloning picture sometime weird science fiction creature in a test but in real life the idea of cloning could be a valuable tool for the environmental community and it would be a process could vastly improve the current situation of endangered species.
Part of the reason why the cloning process is so highly revered is because of the level of complexity and the multiple details that must develop accordingly for the process to work. Robert P. Lanza says, "It is a deceptively simple-looking process. A needle jabs through the protective layer surrounding an egg. A research assistant sucks out the egg's nucleus, which contains the majority of a cell's genetic material, leaving behind only a sac of gel called cytoplasm.
Poirier, Michel Thomas. “Results of the American Pacific Submarine Campaign.” Accessed November 25, 2013. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/history/pac-campaign.html.
Ahmed, Leila. Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1992.
The article Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects, Psychological Inquiry by Kirk Warren Brown, Richard M. Ryan & J. David Creswell seeks to address different aspects of mindfulness and propose future research. Five main topics are discussed, the characterization of mindfulness, mindfulness compared to other theoretical treatments, different interventions that are designed to improve mindfulness, key processes that may provide reasoning for mindfulness success, and shrouded areas concerning mindfulness. The purpose of the article was to show that there are different perspectives on mindfulness and that more research is needed to develop a better understanding. Even though the mindfulness practice has been utilized for centuries, there have been countless studies in recent years concerning mindfulness. The article pinpointed the concept of mindfulness as being rooted in Buddhist psychology but also shares conceptual kinship through ideas from Western European and American culture contributions.
Irwin, S and Winterton, M (2011) ‘Debates in Qualitative Secondary Analysis: Critical Reflections’ ESRC: A Timescapes Working Paper No. 4
But on the contrary, many scientists believe that cloning can be such a positive achievement, not only for medical purposes, but for fighting extinction. For example, what if they could clone many of the endangered species that exist today? There are very few hundred of many beautiful animals that if something isn’t done to save them, they will be extinct in a few years. So if scientists could successfully clone and create these endangered species, although it would still depend on the clone maturing correctly and being able to reproduce successfully, it could be a great
One of the oft-heard arguments against reproductive cloning is that humans should not be interfering with nature or "playing god". When it comes to endangered species, I am not persuaded. For the past few millennia, and particularly the past century, humans have been the driving force behind the overwhelming majority of species' extinctions. In other words, we have already been very busy playing god.(Nicholls)
Sechzer, Jeri Altneu. "“Islam and Woman: Where Tradition Meets Modernity”: History and Interpretations of Islamic Women's Status." Sex Roles 51.5-6 (2004): 263-272.
First, what exactly is cloning? In biology, cloning is used in two contexts: cloning a gene, or cloning an organism. Cloning is the reproduction of a human or animal whose genetic substance is identical to an existing being, such as an embryo or fetus. This is reproductive. Cloning a gene means to extract a gene from one organism and insert it into a second organism. Cloning an organism means to create a new organism with the same genetic information as an existing one. This is therapeutic.
The first religion and its views on women that will be discussed in this essay is Islam. Islam is a religions founded in Saudi Arabia almost two thousand years ago, by the prophet Muhammad. In fact, Muhammad dedicated much attention towards women in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. However, even though much was dedicated to women in the Koran, it was not dedicated to them in the sense of equality. Women in Islamic culture were apparently much lower on the totem pole than men, "The men are made responsible for the women, since God endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners...If you experience opposition from the women, you shall first talk to them, then [you may use such negative incentives as] deserting them in bed, then you may beat them (129)." Excerpt...
The Quran is the religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the word of God. And contrary to popular belief, the Quran never intended to reduce women to such a limited role with little to no rights. Biased interpretation of the verses in the Quran has contributed to the creation of a patriarchal society. It has played a major role on how Muslim women have been treated today and throughout history—si...
Women in the Islamic religion have been oppressed by the men in their own culture since the foundation of the religion by the prophet Muhammad in 610 A.D. To this day, female circumcision, the mistreatment of women and the inability for girls to attend school is still occurring in Muslim homes in both the Middle East and in European countries. This oppression and unjust inequalities are furthered by countries in Western Europe imposing a Burk Ban. In the time of Muhammad, women had little or no rights, as even the basic right of life was stripped from many young girls as they were buried alive in harsh times of economic troubles or food scarcity.1 Muhammad believed that under the eyes of God or Allah, men and women were equal beings, as Muhammad himself is reported to have said “You have rights over your women…and your women have rights over you,” showing his beliefs on women and men. He is considered by some to be a misogynistic polygamist, despite the disputing facts. Muhammad remarried after the death of his first wife, as their marriage had lasted twenty-five years. He later married thirteen wives but treated them with respect. Muhammad did household chores and helped with housework such as preparing food, sewing clothes and repairing shoes. He is also said to have had accustomed his wives to dialogue; he listened to their advice, and the wives debated and even argued with him. The concept of the virginity of a girl is a highly regarded point within the religion of Islam, as sometimes it is considered the “Virgins’ Cage” The men of Islam have oppressed the women of Islam for centuries, causing discrimination and oppression to this day. This unfortunate oppression and discrimination continues in European nations suc...
When the above calculations are expanded from left to right, new assumptions are introduced by each
Liamputtong, P. & Ezzy, D., 2005, Qualitative research methods, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria, pp. 12-31.
In discussing the role of women in contemporary society there are three main areas that can be addressed. The perceptions of woman within contemporary Muslim societies. The status, position and role of woman in the Qur'an and in early Islam
Women who have the misfortune of living in predominately Muslim societies often are confronted with adversities concerning their rights in marriage, divorce, education, and seclusion. Consequently, many Westerners seeing a lack of equality towards women in these societies consider it as a confirmation of their own misconceptions about Islam itself. Islam is often rejected as being an intolerant and violent religion that discriminates against and subjugates women, treating them as second-class citizens. From a Muslim’s perspective, Islam’s stance on women can be approached by two opposing views. Scholars amongst the Muslim apologists have claimed, “The verses in the Qur’an represented Muhammad's intention to improve a debased condition of women that prevailed during the Jahiliya, the time of ignorance before Islam came into being.” (Doumato, 177) If inequalities still exist between men and women, they cannot be attributed to Islam, but are a result of the misinterpretation of Islam’s true meaning. Others have entirely denied the notion of inequality between men and women in Islam, claiming that the alleged inequalities “are merely perceived as such by foreign observers who confuse seclusion and sex difference with inequality.” (Ibid.) Many Muslim apologists defend the Koran as noble for the very fact that it raises women to an equal status of men despite their inferiority.