Should Human Cloning Be Allowed - Essay Example

Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Introduction: Cloning is a process of multiplying the living organism and producing identical copies by reproducing their DNA. Cloning technologies are in fact as old as a century; the first living organism to be cloned is a Sea Urchin which was cloned in 1885. But the first instance of cloning which marked the existence and invention of cloning in our present world refers to the startling announcement made by The Roslin Institute, a biological research institution near Edinburgh, Scotland, on 22nd February, 1997, that they have succeeded in cloning a biological identical copy from cells taken from an adult sheep. (courtesy; American Inventors, 25 Mar,2009) The Scientists of The Roslin Institue who were involved in this great invention are; Ian Wilmut, an embryologist, Keith H. S. Campbell, an experiment supervisor J. McWhir, a researcher W. A. Ritchie, a researcher (Roslin University of Edinburgh, 2013) Definition: Cloning is a biotechnological method of producing genetically identical individuals of the same organism, artificially or naturally. Naturally speaking, cloning is present in our nature since the day one. Reproduction in vegetations, binary fission in bacteria and parthenogenesis in certain animals, as well as the birth of identical twins, are all examples of natural clones. Artificially speaking, organisms can be produced identically through genetic advancements where reproduction is achieved asexually. Artificial cloning can be sub classified as; molecular cloning, cellular cloning, and organism cloning or reproductive cloning. (Biology Online, 2012) Very recent developments in this science has stirred this topic once again, and we are once again focused towards having a better understanding of this unique technology, hence we are going to analyze in detail, how cloning works, and what are the issue that should be taken in consideration to achieve the best results from this gift. The Science: Cloning is majorly characterized as Molecular, Cellular and Organism Cloning. Let us understand how it works; Molecular Cloning: In molecular microbiology the process of replication and amplification of DNA fragment with in a gene of a host organism is called molecular cloning. For this method the word cloning is used because a single DNA molecule is replicated to produce a large inhabitant of cells with identical DNA molecules. In this process the two different organisms are used, one for extracting the DNA from and one which will act as a host in harvesting theses clones. This method of cloning serves as the basics of modern medicinal research. Cloning of DNA requires four basic steps; fragmentation, ligation, transfection and screening or selection. Following these steps or vouching for some alternate route can be termed as a cloning strategy (Sambrook.and Green., 2012). Cellular Cloning: Cell cloning means that a single cell is used to produce a population of cells. Cellular cloning of a uni-cellular organism like bacteria is very effortless it only requires proper inoculation, where as cellular cloning of multi-cellular organism is a tedious task and it requires a perfect medium for it too. Somatic-Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT): It is derived form of cell cloning; Somatic- Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is also referred to as therapeutic cloning or research cloning because the purpose of this cloning is not to reproduce but rather to produce embryos to be used in stem cells research for the elimination of various diseases. The therapeutic nature of SCNT is highlighted in the hope of curing many diseases via the embryotic development of stem cells. The process of such cloning is quite simple, the nucleus containing the DNA is extracted from the egg cell and it is planted in the nucleus of the cell to be cloned. The cloned cell will produce an embryo since the egg reacts with the nucleus and then it will have the potential to form any cell of the body. Hans Spemann, a German embryologist and his student Hilde Mangold were the first human being to successfully perform Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ,for which Hans Spemann was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1935 In SCNT the somatic cells are extracted from the animal to be cloned and it is then inserted in the egg, where it reacts and form an embryo. SCNT is seen as a very viable form of cloning for reproducing farm animals for food consumption. Lots of animals have cloned this way. Dolly the sheep was cloned via SCNT, the only problem is that it is a very tiresome and still imperfect method of cloning, Dolly was cloned using 277 eggs, which created only three live embryos and only one resulted till adulthood. It is not only time consuming but the amount of effort and financial assistance needed for these processes is exponential (AI, 2012) (Courtesy: Google) Organism Cloning: Organism cloning or the reproductive cloning is the process of cloning in which multi cellular organism is cloned which is identical to its parent cell, this is an asexual method of reproduction. Reproductive cloning is generally achieved by Somatic-Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) and up till now thousands of animals have been produced by this method. FDA in United States on 28 December, 2006 has approved the consumption of cloned animals as food, as it is studied that meat of these animals is identical and perfectly healthy for human consumption. This is a very big step towards the development and acceptance of reproductive cloning (Biology Online, 2012). Human Cloning: Now comes the most debatable topic, human cloning. Lets us first understand human cloning. Human cloning is a process of organism cloning in which identical clones of humans; their cells or tissues can be formed from an existing human. There are two types of human cloning known; therapeutic and reproductive human cloning. In therapeutic human cloning human cells are cloned so as to use in medicinal research where as in reproductive human cloning; humans can be produced. (image drawn by / de: Quelle: Zeichner: Schorschski / Dr. Jürgen Groth,2007, courtesy; Google,File:Cloning_Diagram) The first human was cloned in 1998, by Advanced Cell technology, using human cell from a man’s leg, it was cultured in to an embryo and later destroyed. Stemagen also declared in 2008 that they have successfully created five human embryos. In 2013 Shoukhrat Mitalipov published a report that his team was successful in producing human cloned embryos from cells taken from infants. And in most recent times, in April this year (2014), Robert Lanza, CEO of Advanced Cell Technology announced that in the light of Mitalipov’s work they have advanced in producing human cloned cells. (Courtesy: Human cloning controversy, 2012) Thus it is noted that the human clones are not only a figment of our sci-fi movies any more, they are very true and fast approaching us, the point is are we ready for them? (NCBI, 1999) Ethical Issues Concerning Human Cloning: Now that we fully understand what cloning is and how it works, let’s take in consideration the ethical issues concerning the human cloning. It is widely believed; mostly on religious ground that human cloning is an act of tempering with the nature which is not appropriate. Moreover it is believed that it is not a safe practice. It is learned that during the course of animal reproduction through cloning a lot of animals died or harmed because of lack of knowledge and still young technology. It is also taken in consideration by various human activists against cloning that how does a human clone going to intricate in to the family and society as a whole, what will be his identity, his role and his rights. The greatest objection which arises from the human cloning is that human will be harmed in researching and creating a human clone. Ethically the most frustrating situation would be of the clone itself. How would a clone adjust in the society? The relationships between the clone and the donors would be so unrealistic and unbearable to an extent, it would be weird for a woman to give birth to her identical twin, or her mother, or father or even to her husband. Emotionally human would be harmed and damaged beyond belief; no psychiatrist would be able to cure such an unusual situation. The risk involved in cloning is too high, one cannot have therapeutic cloning without having the excess to the reproductive cloning, and there will always be a power hungry leader who can manipulate with this technology. It would be extremely useful to clone Einstein but what would happen to the earth if Hitler is cloned? The world would surely come to an end (Logston, 1999). Advantages and Disadvantages of Human Cloning: Some basic advantages that can be achieved from human cloning would be the creation of new tissues and organs for transplantation which cannot be achieved otherwise, cloning skins for burns victims, cloning for bone marrow for cancer patients are more importantly cloning babies for infertile parents. Common disadvantages would be; that the technology is still so uncertain, and any genetic mutation can occur, Dolly the sheep was the only survived clone from hundred of failed clones, plus any mutation cannot be witnessed until after the birth, an abnormal baby clone would be a disaster. Gene diversity can be lost during the process of cloning. Entire specie can be wiped out if there is incurable disease because of gene diversity. Because of it some people have high immunity and all the variation among the human like color, height, etc. So if the gene diversity is lost there will be no cure for a large cloned population. It is also a myth that humans can only be treated by creating human cells and tissues via human embryos by the process of reproductive cloning, the advancements in biotech has developed such technologies where human cell itself can be used to generate more human cells and tissue without harming a single human or animal, and without the denting research costs. (Dixon, 1998) Thus, it is learned through above discussion, logic and analysis that human cloning has not yet arrived, it’s still young and it still need lots of research and ethical issues to ponder on. Pope John Paul said about cloning after the successful birth of Dolly;  "the scientific mentality has succeeded in leading many to think that if something is technically possible it is therefore morally admissible” (Pope John Paul II, Faith and Reasons, 14 sep,1998) And the creator of Dolly, Ian Wilmut, when questioned for his interest in human cloning, he opposed it and replied; "We think it would be ethically unacceptable and certainly would not want to be involved in that project."( Logston, 1999) Leon. R Kass stated in his book ‘The Ethics of Human Cloning’ (1998) that we should declare human cloning unethical in itself and dangerous in its likely consequences. He says that we should do all that we can to prevent the cloning of human beings. He thinks it will change what it means to be a human being. However there are some advantages of human cloning that’s why it has survived in to the society up till now, but the number of disadvantages outweighs its advantages. On one hand it seems very unethical to have such a technology and on the other hand it is not wise to prohibit such advancement. It would be rather naive to believe that we can prevent such science, it will be there some time down the road, all that needs to be done is to devise better ways and better understanding before the arrival of one such clone, we have to prepare ourselves and the world for such a drastic change. I am sure it’s just the tip of the Iceberg, the issues we are concerned now are just imaginary, real issues will emerge only after a successful human clone is created, it can only be said that until one such day, this science should be left alone at least till the day we have better understanding of it. .. References American Inventors. Invention; Cloning, 2012, Web. Retrieved 1st May, 2014 from Biology Online. Cloning; 6th April, 2012. Web. Retrieved 1st May, 2014 from Roslin University of Edinburgh. Technical Aspects of Cloning, Sep 2013, Web. Retrieved on 1St May, 2014 < http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/public-interest/dolly-the-sheep/technical-aspects-of-cloning/> NCBI. Human Molecular Genetics, 1999, Web. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2014 Wisegeek. What are Some Disadvantages of Cloning, 2011, Web. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2014 http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-some-disadvantages-of-cloning.htm Dixon.P , 1998, Ethics of Cloning, Web. Retrieved on 2nd May, 2014 Logston.A, 13 Jan, 1999, Ethics of Cloning, Web.Retrieved on 2nd May, 2014 Kass, Leon R. and James Q. Wilson. The Ethics of Human Cloning. Washington, DC: The AEI Press,1998. Print Read More