Monday, March 4, 2013

Value of Reproductive Cloning

What is cloning?  Cloning is the production of identical copies of a gene, a cell, or an organism. There are several types of cloning, therapeutic cloning, cloning of the cells from an embryo for the purpose of producing human stem cells, and human reproductive cloning, an adult human cell with the intent of producing a human body. 
Cloning is a very sensitive subject and some view it as morally and ethically wrong.   It should be a personal choice, but it affects our society and religious beliefs, whether you are for or against it, there will never be a mutual agreement on this subject, someone will always have a point of view on the subject.
The process of cloning is a difficult process and requires lots of research and money to develop a fool proof technique.  Scientists are ready to perform the biological engineering in cloning, but know there are moral issues involved in this study.   
Scientists generate clones by replacing the nucleus of an egg cell with that from another individual. Scientists have tried to clone human embryos, but are unsuccessful.  Human cloning is a very difficult process and will take many years of research in order to perfect.
On the other side, you will find an organization that is against this type of research. Human reproductive cloning is a conflict of liberties.  Many feel cloning will cause physical harm and lead to violations from this process, causing psychological harm.  Some scientists believe that it is up to the individual to agree upon the research.
Enacting a so-called ban from congress would accomplish absolutely nothing.  Banning the research would just put the scientists farther behind. If banning were illegal, there would be underground research conducted.  Cloning should not be political, but some feel it will either promote or hurt a political career.  Couples who are wanting to have a test tube baby would file law suits to protect their individual rights, and religious organizations would support the ban of cloning.
In my own personal opinion, I don’t mind either way if cloning is accepted or not.  I feel it is important for scientists to continue their research and find cures especially for the human body to heal from diseases.  The only thing I disagree upon is using animals for cloning experiments.  I feel it is not fair for the animals to be tested, but then if we do not have animals, how else would the testing be complete.

Sources
Cloning of a human, Author, Charles Q. Choi
March 4, 2013

Human reproductive cloning:  a conflict of liberties, Author, Joyce C. Havstad
March 4, 2013

Congress and cloning, Author, Wesley J. Smith
March 4, 2013







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