The Ethics of Human Cloning - Essay Example

Scientists do not copy embryos. They just take genetic material from a cell and put it into an empty egg cell. With this type of technology, they can develop nerve tissues, heart muscles as well as brain cells. Scientists believe that by cloning, any damage caused by illnesses can be repaired.

Cloning involves high risks. The first drawback with it is that it’s very expensive and also inefficient. There are certain cases that have been unsuccessful. For example, in 2001, scientists reported that they had cloned the first human embryo, however, the only embryo that survived was divided into only six cells. More than 100 nuclear transfer procedures could be required to produce one viable clone. Research shows that cloned animals have high rates of infection, tumor growth, and low immune systems. Cloned mice live in poor health and die early. Clones have been known to die mysterious deaths like the first cloned Australian sheep was fit and healthy when it died and causes of death were not revealed even after autopsy.

Cloning is done not only for organs but also for the entire human body. Some people like Hitler and Saddam Hussein wanted human replicas of themselves. That’s creepy. To have someone with the same intellect, intelligence, and personality as your own kill your individuality. Also if the actual Hitler died, a clone would still be moving around and that’s a scary thought. It’s also unethical as our bodies are sacred; we have no right to destroy any part of it intentionally. We cannot attempt to take nature into our hands. Lots of religious groups say that male involvement in the process of reproduction becomes useless if cloning becomes successful, and that is not right.  Also if this technology falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to perform criminal acts. Moreover, if done inefficiently, it can cause defects in the clone of a human. Then what would we call that clone? A human? An animal? Babies born with a certain kind of genetic defect are a nightmare for their parents. An alien? Experiments of animal cloning have produced mutants. The joy of producing a baby and having emotional attachments with it just doesn’t fit in with cloning. True, twins also look alike, but they have different personalities. We should keep in mind that a child may go through an emotional trauma if he finds out that he has been cloned. What effects would it have on his personality? Already we have a high population rate. Cloning would surely contribute to it. Some zoologists think that cloning can be a way of saving endangered species. However, in my opinion, the problem is not that their population number should grow. The actual problem is that they have to mate with their cousins and that causes genetic disorders. Also in the trial part of the cloning, many lives are wasted. Take the cloning of Dolly the sheep. It took 277 tries before it was successful. Think about the wastage of organs and lives caused in the process.

It is still not clear what the future of this technology will hold for the world. Even if it does go ahead, initially the success rates will not be high. I’m sure the religious groups would continue to protest. We also have to see what the laws of different countries say about this. One thing for all humans to remember, and take satisfaction in is that ‘There will never, ever be another you.”