Human Cloning in the UK - Research Paper Example

Human Cloning in UK Student Name Course Name Tutor Date Introduction Cloning is defined by Renard & Chupin (2004) as the process of propagating organisms in a manner that does not involve sexual reproduction1. One such manner is the nuclear transfer where the somatic cell is moved to an enucleated oocyte producing reconstructed embryo that is capable of developing to full term when it is moved into a recipient foster mother2. Cloning is rather an inefficient method but can result to products such as livestock that are healthier that those produced sexually. There is therefore a need to check on the potential risks associated with the entry of cloned products into the food chain. UK is among the countries cloning has been adopted. However, scientists are in a dilemma regarding the success and acceptability of cloning. This is because the scientists have been using eggs that were left in the treatments facilities by women undergoing treatment. The dilemma here is that scientists are claiming that the success of the research is becoming unsuccessful because the eggs they use are not of good quality and they result into unhealthy clones. On the other side, asking women to donate eggs from their bodies is very expensive and it is morally questionable. The process is also painful and poses various risks to women donating their eggs. In the United Kingdom, any research carried out in the human embryo must be ruled by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 1990. This is to check out the risks associated with human cloning3. Thesis statement Following the conflict between the objection to destruction of the potential human life and the interest of the biomedical researchers on the value of stem cells as research tools, there has been political and legal debate over the acceptability of the whole process. Background and definition Human cloning appears in two forms, therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning. Therapeutic cloning involves harvesting of stem cells from an adult person to be used in medical treatment4. In therapeutic cloning, a cell is extracted from the individual who is in need of treatment. The nuclear of the cell is then separated and placed in an empty egg of the donor. An electric current or some special chemicals are the used to encourage division of the cell. This results into embryonic cells which are then removed and used in treating the sick person. On the other hand, reproductive cloning entails creating another organism which is identical to the original one. This is done on plants, animals and human beings. This involves nuclear transfer of the somatic cells. The nuclear of the donor egg is removed leaving an empty egg. Then, the cell of the organism being cloned is removed and inserted in the empty donor egg. This is forced to divide by the use of electric current or chemicals to form an embryo which is then moved into the uterus of the host. This is mainly used for research purposes. An example of reproductive cloning was done in Scotland by Dr. Wilmut and his colleagues. They produced Dolly the lamb by asexual reproduction. The process involved transferring nuclear from an adult cell to an enucleated oocyte after having starved the adult into the Go phase of its cell cycle. The DNA was the reprogrammed to the new environment by activating the cell with electric current to onset the division of the oocyte and its development into an embryo and not as differentiated mammary tissue. The embryo was then implanted and then fertilized using the in vitro fertilization technology to produce foetus. Out of the dozens of embryos implanted, Dolly survived and grew into adulthood. Dolly is a living scientific proof of what seemed to be impossible5. Legalization of Therapeutic Cloning in UK Long before 2001, the United Kingdom’s laws permitted research on embryonic stem cell but at the same time prohibited any form of cloning. This was following the Human Fertilisation and Embryonic Act of 1990 (HFE Act)6. According to the article by Spranger (2002), “scientists must obtain license from the HFEA to carry out research before the fourteenth day”. It is further explained that ‘use of tissues from cadavers of foetuses is not subject of specific statutory provisions.’ This act allows for licensed research on human embryos of up to fourteen days of development. This act requires that all scientists are fully accredited by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for them to carry out the research before fourteen days. According to Great Britain Stationery Office, (2001), committees on research ethics in UK had therefore approved any research on methods of transplanting cadaveric fetal tissues to treat Parkinson’s disease for those affected7. Due to the high scientific needs, the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and the HFEA requested the HFE act to be eased and pave way for large scale research on human cells. In December 2000, the members of parliament voted for the adjustment of the Act to allow for modern research on stem cells. This resulted in the amendment of the Act to bring in the January 2001 Act that allowed therapeutic cloning but with close monitoring8. Legal implications of cloning Assessing the legal implications of cloning involves the legal facts as well as the moral, ethical and medical implications of the act. This is because these are the factors that should justify whether to legalise cloning or to illegalise it. The acceptance of cloning has also been faced by many political issues in UK. The U.K initial act of 1990 banned cloning but after negotiations by the scientists and members of parliament who had interest in it, the ban was lifted by the Act of 2001 which allowed therapeutic cloning alone9. This indicates that at some point, all forms of cloning will be accepted in U.K and people will have to live with the risks of introducing cloned organisms in the food chain. However, to be on the safe side, the Act should maintain that the only legalized cloning is therapeutic and not reproductive. Therapeutic cloning is mainly applied in treatment unlike reproductive cloning that brings in a whole new individual into existence. It is unreligious and morally unacceptable for man to create another being whatsoever and this should therefore be banned. Reproductive cloning may also result in disputes over legal rights. This is because there are two individuals from similar sources and one is a duplicate of the other. The two are living individuals and deserve legal rights. This poses a question of who deserves the rights. Is it the original person or the replica. One individual may also suffer for crimes of the other where they are completely identical10. According to Hartl & Jones, (2009), an average person bears eight defective genes that make people become sick when they should be healthy. But with cloning, the defective genes are excluded from the individual and this may help them to overcome the genetic diseases. For example, those women who suffer from Down’s syndrome, they can avoid it by being cloned. Another disease that can be avoided by cloning is Tay-Sachs disease11. But on the other hand, cloning interferes with the genes and prevents the diversity of the pure genes of the body. This reduces the ability of human beings to adapt and it is harmful to the beauty which is founded in natural diversity. Tampering with the genes therefore leads to production of an individual with the cloner’s desirable characteristics. Allowing cloning to take place is also a violation to the right of protecting own DNA. This is because by default, the organ that is produced belongs to the donor of the cells. However, scientists retain the ownership until the point of treatment of the donor. This forgets the fact that there are legitimate legal implications that protects the ownership of DNA. Another benefit of cloning is that it can be used to produce organs for use in transplant. Therapeutic cloning can produce organs to be used in treating people who are suffering from organ failures and need transplant. This helps to prevent loss of life due to cases of heart and liver failure. This could also help in treating illnesses for instance diabetes, Parkinson’s disease as well as other degenerative joint diseases12.Cloning can also be helpful to the infertile couples. Instead of remaining childless for the rest of life, one can be cloned to a duplicate child. This can also be done by therapeutic cloning where the dysfunctional reproductive system can be cloned and the individual gets transplant with reproductive system13. However, on the other hand, cloning of human organs for use in transplant seems unethical since it eliminates the role of female beings in reproduction and thus rendering human beings man made. This lowers the value of human beings since he can be created by another person. Considering the religious facts, God is both the architect and the provider of life. Science is therefore bringing forth other lives that are not God given. This brings a controversy because religion also states that every life is precious to God and must be valued14. Cloning is also not right morally since it ruins the parenting and family life. The basic idea behind parenting is that a couple in love determines the number of children they will bear and they commit to love them. But those who parent the clones value the children depending how similar they are to them. Cloning is therefore the basic values of a family which includes to love, to nurture and to accept the children as own. Therapeutic cloning may also be helpful in performing reconstructive, plastic and cosmetic surgery. Cloning can help avoid use of foreign materials that may be rejected by the body. Doctors will be able to produce organs that match the body tissues. People will be having their appearance changed without introducing foreign substances such as silica gel used in cosmetic surgery15. However, Cloning may also result to unbalance in the society. This is because the scientists may get involved in changing the forms of people to what they desire. Operations such as plastic surgery might produce individuals with extraordinary skin colours, brains, and whatever else they mat desire. These may look ridiculous when compared to what was produced initially. Organisms that are also produced through reproductive cloning may produce foods that are not believed to be safe for human consumption16. Conclusion Cloning has faced a lot of opposition considering the social, ethical and religious acceptability of the technology. However, its benefits cannot be ignored especially due to the role it plays in treating genetic diseases. On my opinion, therapeutic cloning appears to be more practical than the reproductive cloning. This is because therapeutic cloning is mainly for the sake of treatment and deals with parts of the body. This is unlike the reproductive cloning that makes another whole and fully functional individual. The government of U.K should therefore legalize therapeutic cloning and leave reproductive cloning as illegal. Bibliography Renard, J. & Chupin, D. (2004). Cloning and Risk assessment: Building-up a Scientific Expertise. Cloning and Stem Cells. 6 (2). 75. Nardo, D. (2005). Cloning. New York: Lucent Books. Meslin, E. (2000). Choices: Biomedical Ethics and Women’s Health. Journal of the Heath of Women & Gender-based Medicine.9: (8):833-834. Liebert, M. (1998). The Asexual Revolution of Dolly the Lamb. Journal of Women’s Health. 7(1):1-2 Spranger, T. (2002). Authorised significance and Patentability of stem Cells within Europe. Biotechnology Law Report.21 (2): 107-108. Great Britain Stationery Office. (2001). The Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001. Birmingham: Stationery Office. Gilbert, P. (2005). Human Cloning Challenge. European Lawyer. Macintosh, K. (2007). Illegal Beings: Human Clones and the Law. Human Rights Law Review. Carpon, A. (2001). Stem Cells: Ethics, Law and Politics. Biotechnology Law Report. 20(5):679-680. Lauritzen, P. (2001). Cloning and the expectations of human embryo research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Piñón, R. (2002). Biology of human reproduction. Boston: University Science Books. Freeman, M. & Lewis, A. (2000). Current legal issues: Law and medicine, Volume 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Klotzko, A. (2003). The cloning sourcebook. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Renard, J. & Chupin, D. (2004). Cloning and Risk Assessment: Building up a Scientific Expertise. Cloning and Stem Cells. 6(2): 77. Hartl, D. & Jones, E. (2009). Genetics: analysis of genes and genomes. Michigan: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Read More