Cloning Essays (1818 words) - Cloning, Molecular Biology

Cloning Essays (1818 words) - Cloning, Molecular Biology Cloning Should we clone humans? Cloning humans has become a possibility that seems easier in today's society than it was twenty years ago. It is a method that involves the production of a group of identical cells or organisms that all derive from a single individual (Grolier 220). It is not known when or how cloning humans really became a possibility, but it is known that there are two possible ways that we can clone humans. The first way involves splitting an embryo into several halves and creating many new individuals from that embryo. The second method of cloning a human involves taking cells from an already existing human being and cloning them, in turn creating other individuals that are identical to that particular person. These are two methods we should think about and ask ourselves if we should clones humans. The overall idea of cloning humans is one that we should accept as a possible reality for the future. Although we cannot clone a human yet, this experiment occurred almost two years ago. Evidence from these experiments got strange reactions from the public. Shannon Brownlee claims, The Vatican condemned the technology of this experiment as being perverse; one German magazine called the research unscupulous (24). This experiment opend the possibilities of cloning to society and, even though it was unseccessful, it led people to ask themselves what they would do if cloning were to happen. Common answers to the puzzling questions about humans and cloning are still trying to be answered today, and scientists and the public are eager to learn all they can about cloning. Many sources state that cloning is just simply an extension of in vitro fertalization. In fact, it is ,and many couples that can not have babies should take this into mind. Cloning embryos is different from the genetic process of in vitro fertilization, but still holds many similarities with it. For example, the process of in vitro fertilization is pretty straightfoward. It involves taking an egg from the woman and taking sperm from the man. The embryo is then formed and implanted into the woman's uterus. The embryo develops normally and is born with unpredictable characteristics of both the man and the woman. The offspring ends up as unique individual and excluding the special case of twins, has no other human bein exactly like it. It uses one embryo that is from the beginning a distinct individual and creates only one human that is basically completely original. Cloning also goes through this same process, but it is unlike in vitro fertilization in that it takes the same type embryo and destroys its originality through duplication. Research on in vitro fertilization helps to improve its techniques and also aids scientists in their search for better ways to clone humans. Barbara Ehrenreich makes a statement that seems to be quite sarcastic in its context, but it describes the way the society's attitude if cloning were to happen, she state, Why not make a few backup copies of the embryo and keep a few in the freezer in case Junior needs a new kidney or cornea (86). I think that if this happens a type of black market for embryo could easily someday develop, who knows. Some people see this on the negative side when it could actually help our society. On the positive side of this issue, however, embryonic cloning could be a valuable tool for the studying of human development, genetically modifying embryos, and investigating new transplant technologies (Hamilton 42). Using cloning to produce offspring for the sake of their organs is an issue that we must also face and question whether or not it is morally right. No one will say that it is okay to kill a human being for the sake of their organs, but many have no objection to cloning thousands of individuals that look alike. Technology seems to take away many of the morals that we have worked so hard to install in society. Most people only seem to want to cater to their own needs and do not bother to consider the consequences that society and the clone may have to face. The issue of in vitro fertilization among embryos only leads the public to fear