Cloning: What is It and How Can It Help Society - Article Example

Download file to see previous pages Today the technology is being discussed far and wide for its benefits as well as its ethics. It is an issue of controversy for many of them particularly the religious groups. This paper discusses the benefits and the future of this technology.
In order to understand how exactly the process of cloning is carried out, it is important to understand the basics of cell biology. The fertilized egg, from which a human develops, for example, contains DNA which is the basic genetic material that is the blueprint of living organisms from both mother and father. The egg divides into two identical cells and further it divides into four, eight, sixteen and so on. The DNA within these cells is the copy of each other and these cells are called clones. After some stage, the cells begin to differentiate, or become specialized, into skin cells, eye cells, liver cells, and so on (Cloning, 2006).
Human beings or for that matter any organism is a result of natures cloning. However, today manmade cloning is a subject of controversy and has raised several ethical questions. There are several arguments made for and against cloning. Some have put forth valid arguments stating the immorality of cloning. Others use the religion argument saying it goes against Gods intention (McCoy, 1998). For any technology to progress and produce beneficial results it is essential that we look at the positive impacts that these technologies may have on the society.
If we look at the history of cloning the major initiation started in 1962, by the biologist John Gurdon of Oxford University. He used the nucleus of fully differentiated adult intestinal cells to clone South African frogs. Gurdons results electrified the scientific community, but some scientists remained skeptical and began to find flaws in his work.    ...Download file to see next pagesRead More