Cloning, Its Definition, History, Progress, and Achievements - Research Paper Example

? Cloning [Pick the of institute Introduction Cloning has now been the edge of modern medical science for a few decades now. The initial success that leading cloning experts and researchers had with the creation of a cloned sheep Dolly initiated the enthusiastic pursuit of this controversial discipline that has far reaching impacts on the biology of mankind, life and the society at large as well. The scientific term, “Cloning” is the replication of an organism such that its genetic makeup is the same and as a result it appears as a carbon copy of its original counterpart. Clones have the same physiology, external appearance and the same genetic coding within their cells. In layman’s terms it is an exact copy of a particular organism.( Mediline Plus, 2012, p.1) So far the Cloning project and several genome projects have achieved success in cloning simpler organisms like micro-organisms, rats and the latest sensational breakthrough of Sheep cloning by bringing into the earth the first complex organism under the mammal species, a sheep nicknamed: Dolly. However Cloning has several risks and the current stage of knowledge and research is inadequate to successfully copy human genome and create an exact carbon copy. Lower level organisms too displayed extreme susceptibility to diseases, a very poor internal defence mechanism and intruder detection system and fragility in day to day course of existence. The Sheep ‘Dolly’ couldn’t be kept alive for long, surviving only for a short span of 6 years, dying due to progressive ling disease. Cloning: Change in Parenthood and Biological Origin The process of cloning involves a total paradigm shift, a total societal change in the way organisms reproduce sexually giving birth to a child with equal chromosomes being contributed by either partner. Cloning of Dolly was done with the help of three participating organisms. The first participant was the sheep that donated its somatic cell and gene from its mammary gland, the second sheep donated the egg and the third sheep was used to bear the embryo to term. The process of cloning is inspired and based on the natural process of embryo multiplication wherein an egg after fertilisation divides into two thus bringing into existence two identical twins. The sperm cell punctures through the egg followed by fertilisation and separation of a portion of the egg to give rise to an identical embryo at a later stage of fertilisation. (The University of Utah., 2012, p1.) Cloning replicates this process almost mechanically, aping the natural process step by step in cooking up a clone, through artificial embryonic multiplication, gene implantation, extraction and gestation in a mother’s womb until birth. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer The process of Cloning involves the SCNT, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Somatic Cells refer to cells in the body other than the two types: egg and sperm cell. Egg cells and Sperm cells have one set of chromosomes whereas somatic cells have a complete set of chromosomes inherited form its biological parents. (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2012, p1.). The cloning process involved three stages: somatic cell sourcing, nucleus extraction form the somatic cell of the adult sheep (intended sheep to be cloned) and finally implantation into a female sheep’s womb for successful gestation to term. Dolly the sheep was cloned in the same process. The fundamentals of cloning technology were applied. A somatic cell was taken from an adult cell’s mammary glands, the nucleus was extracted from the cell of the adult female sheep (source of clone) and the implanted in an embryo of another sheep. Soon the embryo started behaving normally and showing signs of acceptance of the nucleus. This embryo was later implanted into another female sheep for rearing in the womb until term and delivery. (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, 2008, p1.) Risks of Cloning Reproductive cloning is extremely expensive and has high failure rates. Almost 90 % of all cloning attempts fail to produce a viable offspring. In an attempt to produce one fit clone embryo almost 100 trials need to be done to get the process right. Apart from its high cost and low success rates cloned animals have shown high susceptibility to diseases and displayed an extremely fragile immune system. Due to the mechanical, human-intervened and unnatural process of embryo creation followed by rearing in the womb of a surrogate mother, such clones display unnatural death causes. Autopsy results of several cloned animals revealed no visible or detectable disorder, organ failure or abnormality in the body. The mist likely causes of such peculiar and unforeseen death can be attributed to fault genetic coding. (Life Technologies, 2012, p.5) When an embryo is formed from an egg and a sperm it received copies of most genes from both parents. A process called imprinting marks the DNA of the mother and the father and only one copy of the gene, either from the mother or father is turned on. When a single donor cell donates its nucleus there are chances of the genetic code getting messed up and not making up a healthily functioning algorithms. This has been identified as the likeliest cause of abnormal deaths of cloned animals. Further adding to the difficulty of cloning projects, the short life span of cloned animals don’t allow ling term recording of data of cloned animals. This makes the study of cloned species increasingly difficult. (Human Genome Project Information, 2009, p2.) The Ethical Question: Should humans be cloned? Human cloning has been a topic of debate for almost more than a decade now with various dilemmas, social repercussions, legal issues etc coming into the forefront. Human cloning has not been possible yet though some sources say attempt may be on undercover to produce the first human clone. Physicians of American Medical Association and scientists with the American Association for the Advancement of Science have issued statutory public statements against human reproductive cloning. (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2012, p1.). The adverse effects of cloning have already been witnessed with sudden deaths, high mortality rates, short life span, health complications and several peculiar fallouts of a natural process that underwent human experimentation and intervention. Human cloning has been strongly advised against by political leaders, governments and even received tough criticism from religious groups including churches and the Christian community. Due to extremely low success rates 1 in 100 attempts in animal cloning, the inadequate knowledge of reproductive cloning, scientists and researchers strongly voiced their negative concerns regarding human cloning, They have labelled it as unethical to attempt to clone humans as this would lead to serious complications, sever legal and moral issues and the violation of the basic right to life of a new born. Not only does most mammal cloning attempts fail clones are born disproportionately and abnormally large =, this is known as the “large-offspring-syndrome”. Several Clones died early because of complication, inadequate resistance to common infections and diseases and unknown reasons. “The same problems would be expected in human cloning. In addition, scientists do not know how cloning could impact mental development.” (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2012, p1.). Also the factors as metal health, intellect, mood, psychology etc are not important in animals they are extremely important in the human race that defines human success and capabilities. With so many unknowns surrounding human reproductive cloning any attempt is considered to be dangerous and forbidden. It is widely regarded as unethical and a forbidden territory. With so many unknowns concerning reproductive cloning, the attempt to clone humans at this time is considered potentially dangerous and ethically irresponsible. (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2012, p1.). Works Cited 1. The University of Utah., 2012. Learn Genetics: What is Cloning? Available at: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/whatiscloning/ 2. Human Genome Project Information, 2009. Cloning Fact Sheet Available at: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml 3. National Human Genome Research Institute, 2012. Cloning Fact sheet. Available at: http://www.genome.gov/25020028 4. Mediline Plus, 2012. Cloning. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cloning.html 5. Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, 2008. Cloning Available at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cloning/ 6. Life Technologies, 2012. Cloning Available at: http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/Products-and-Services/Applications/Cloning.html Read More