Human Cloning
Cloning is the production of one or more individual plants animals that are genetically identical to another plant animal.
KINDS OF CLONING
THERAPEUTIC CLONING AND REPRODUCTIVE CLONING
Therapeutic Cloning is related to stem cell (multifunction cell that can be specialized into brain cells and liver cells.) Reproductive Cloning gives life to new human beings. It represents a technique which life can be given to an identical twin or original cell donor.
USES
Therapeutic Cloning
Reproductive Cloning
COMPLICATION
Stakeholders - Congress for allowing the cloning to take place, the scientists and workers that work together to make this adventerous discovery to mankind, people and family members that volunteer for the use of their cells and/or embryo, committees that support their opinion on the case of human cloning.
CLONING BENEFITS
DISADVANTAGES OF CLONING
Human Cloning - Bioethical Issue - This issue has been taping it's foot and waiting scientists to continue experimenting, but within certain groups and organizations, that probably will not happen for quite some time. While human cloning involves many stakeholders such as scientists, commitees and organizations, Congress, cell donors and volunteers that want to have the embryo implanted in themselves, it doesn't solve problems. Many think that if you clone a human organ or cells that you'll have a brand new organ or cell and it will be solved. Cloning new cells and organs won't replace the characteristics and personality of the original organism. It will make problems arise such as the need for more medications and if experiments don't go through then it will be the scientists and Congress's fault for letting the experiment go sour.
OPINIONS
"The Christian mind sees a sharp qualitative differance between the desire or two loving persons to produce their image in a person who is part of both of them, and the determination to impose one's genotype intact upon carbon copies of himself. The latter seems to be the thoughtful Christian to be narcissistic." With these words, Professor Harold B, Kuhn of the Asbury Theological Seminary at Wilmore, Kentucky, pinpoints the dilemma of many religiously oriented persons today.
"I wouldn't mind reproducing a thousand persons just like myself, because I think the world needs them," he says, but worries that "in the beginning, cloning is going to be very expensive and only very rich people will be capable of duplicating themselves." Therefore, he muses, "until they get the price down, all we'll be able to reproduce wholesale will be oil and gas tycoons who, as they multiply, will lobby for higher and higher priced with the exuse that they have so many mouths to feed"
- Ebon, Martin "The Cloning of Man: A brave New Hope - Or Horror?. New American Library, Inc. New York, NY. 1978
BACKROUND INFORMATION
For many generations the subject of cloning has been a bioethical issue. It has been a key contributer of science fiction books and scientific debates.
In 1997 a scientific organization in Scotland made it public that they had cloned the first ever mammal, a sheep named Dolly. This brought much controversy to the scientic and ethical world. People who were asking the question, how, were now asking the question what's next? In the United States the reaction to Dolly was swift. President Bill Clinton banned federal funds for human cloning research after the cloning of the sheep. Yet the US has no national law against cloning, the iron is still hot for many different private research organizations to clone.
Scientists wish to use embryos for stem cell research. Stem cells are cells that have not yet matured to perform specialized functions. Cloning doesn't have to mean duplicating entire people; they can use cloning for duplicating organs and cells.
Scientists at the Infertility Clinic at Kyeonghee University in South Korea announced to the public the first ever human embryo. They said that they allowed the embryo to divide itself into four cells, at this stage a test tube embryo usually is placed back in the uterus where it develops in a fetus.
Clonaid, the first human cloning company, said that they are using a couple that has lost their 10 year old child and is working on cloning a new son. They kept the location, time, demonstrations and possible violence by anti-cloning advocates out of any discussion. Clonaid expects the baby by spring of 2002.
Fritz
Links
Church's Opinion
Pro Clone
Cloning Report
Scientific and Medical Aspects
Cloning Fun
How it's Done
