Scientists Clone Rhesus Monkey to Produce Stem Cells - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Scientists Clone Rhesus Monkey to Produce Stem Cells Scientific breakthroughs are at times considered both a boon and a bane at the same time. It is claimed that these cells could be used to avoid the present day problems associated with organ transplants. However, it becomes evident that this formal discovery has come into a society where such breakthroughs always require radical changes in the thinking pattern and cultural norms. As usual, the Judeo-Christian ethical concepts deep-rooted in the American society made it a difficult task to play with genes as genes are the very basis of the secrets of life to which only almighty has access. As everyone ranging from science popularizers, fiction writers, religious leaders, and politicians resorted to fantasizing instead of analyzing, cloning has become such a science that is beyond the reach of both natural and formal sciences. It is now a popular science that requires the government and the general public to take decisions. Admittedly, Shoukhrat Mitalipov is the brain behind the new achievement in cloning. He is an Assistant Scientist and Co-Director of the Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Embryonic Stem Cell Core Laboratory at the Oregon National Primate Research center, Oregon Health & Science University. According to Rowe (2007), from the very beginning, Dr. Mitalipov focused on human and monkey embryonic stem cells as such cells are the gateway to effective regenerative medicine. However, despite the obvious benefits associated with the natural science label, the decision to go ahead with cloning requires approval of the wider society. One can see that the modern day sciences like cloning and artificial intelligence have gone out of the concept of formal science. As Erickson (2005) comments, according to the tenets of Formal science, inventions take birth within the laboratory; and hence, their enactment and execution are done within the laboratory. And these scientific breakthroughs provide the wider society newer and newer insights into science and technology (p. 29). Admittedly, if this point of view is taken into consideration, one can see that the cloning of Rhesus Monkey provides the wider society with a new challenge to cope with as it radically changes the traditional norms the society cherished for quite some time. A look into history proves that the situation posed by cloning is nothing much different from the consequences arose nearly 140 years ago from Darwin’s Origin of Species. What one can see as common in both these cases is the need to reformulate the existing culture and thought pattern. To illustrate, The Roman Catholic Church has, since its inception, been opposed to changes in the existing patterns of beliefs; and hence, it has developed a history of continuous friction with science. Admittedly, a number of recent scientific and medical advances have had the same experience from the Church. Some examples are abortion and euthanasia. Thus, lately, medical field and genetic engineering have become the fields which receive the highest degree of scrutiny from various sections of the society. Admittedly, a look into the issue of cloning proves that the biggest enemy for cloning, at present, is God; in fact, Western concept of God. The underlying problem is that in the Judeo-Christian tradition, God is the only creator who possesses the exclusive right to give out new soul to a new individual. It is this soul that makes the man superior to other plants and animals. Hence, it is not right, according to them, to use such embryos for research. However, as other plants and ...Download file to see next pagesRead More