To Clone or Not to Clone Part 2

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To Clone or Not to Clone

The term cloning evokes powerful emotions in the eyes of the American public. It has been a controversial subject that has caused international uproar on numerous occasions. The term cloning is defined as an individual formed by some asexual process so that it is genetically identical to an already existing or previously existing individual (Barnes). However, there are three different types of cloning: reproductive cloning, recombinant DNA cloning and therapeutic cloning. In this essay I will briefly describe the different types of cloning, why scientists pursue their research and why the public oppose cloning research. These issues have yet to be resolved and they raise public opinion on the morality of laboratory creation.

When the media report on cloning in the news, they are usually referring to one type of cloning called reproductive cloning. However, there are three different types of cloning: reproductive cloning, recombinant DNA cloning, and therapeutic cloning. Although, reproductive cloning is the most controversial, it is not the most practiced. The term reproductive cloning is defined as the process in which a new organism is created from the nuclear genetic material of the currently or previously existing organism. The resulting individual would possess the identical nuclear genetic material of an already existing or previously existing individual (Barnes). This process was first successful in 1995 when Ian Wilmut, Keith Campbell, and colleagues at the Roslin Institute in Scotland created live lambs-Megan and Morag. This was the first time live animals had been produced from cultured cells (Genetics & Public Policy). The term recombinant DNA cloning refers to t...

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...isks to human health, reproductive cloning would deprive the cloned individual of the ?right to an open future,? reproductive cloning would disturb the delicate balance of marriage and alter parent-child relationships, reproductive cloning would lead to discrimination against cloned individuals, reproductive cloning would decrease human diversity (Genetics & Public Policy).

Although the issues have yet to be resolved on the morality of human cloning and probably will not be resolved for some time, the question still lurks in everyone?s minds ?is it moral to create human life in a test tube?? Should we allow science to progress in order to save lives and possibly create a better future for our children, or is it our moral duty to ourselves and our children to end the progressing technology? ?To clone or not to clone,? that is the question that only time will tell.

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