Should Human Cloning Be Banned - Assignment Example

?SHOULD HUMAN CLONING BE BANNED? Munther Farraj 48211 Section 24 WRI 102 12/29 Submitted Mrs. Sharmeela Raja This paper expounds onthe factors that surrounds the controversial topic of human cloning. There are countless claims on the attempts by scientists to clone human beings despite the various negative aspects and views of societies on the issue. In discussing the thorny issue of human cloning, many religious leaders, medical ethicists, philosophers and critics offer their views on the possibility of human cloning. Unethical issues often characterize reproductive cloning. This paper, in discussing this issue reviews and critically analyses the arguments for and against human cloning and the implication to the humanity. Many authors provide varying views on the topic. Caulfield provides views of scientists, critics and religious leaders on the results of human cloning activities in his article on human cloning”. However, other proponents view the process as beneficial; and should not be banned in the case of assisted reproduction. Consequently, they argue that governments should regulate human reproductive cloning in order to ensure appropriate application and tests. Introduction What started out as an attempt to provide a solution to chronic illnesses like cancer has turned out to be a chronic and a thorny issue. Even former President Bush saw cloning as a success and beneficial to the contemporary world. However, currently, various arguments against human cloning point out its ethical and medical implications to society. The first successful experiment of cloning a sheep commonly referred to as Dolly resulted in many attempts to clone human beings. Many persuasive arguments have been put on the table to justify the ban on human reproductive cloning. For instance, the significance of the definition of family has been a persuasive force in justifying the negative impact of cloning to the society. Moreover, many health critics offer their views on the negative health impacts of the whole process to the subjects. The death of Dolly amplifies these arguments against human reproductive cloning (Adnan, 2010). Religious leaders have viewed the process as unethical as it defies the plans of God and his scriptures. Therefore, this paper expounds on whether the process of human reproductive cloning should be banned. Many proponents have provided different and conflicting views about the controversial topic, however, the primary issue at hand is whether the process of human cloning is unethical and therefore should be banned. Many proponents argue that human cloning brings forth benefits to the world and thus choose to ignore the risks attributed to the whole process. Scientists argue that it provides solutions to infertility Researchers and scientists too have contradictive views on the process of human productive cloning, as they tend to attribute it to various benefits. Gautam Naik in the article “cloning offers stem-cell hope” brings out the analysis of researchers who view human cloning as a gift to humanity. They argue that the process of cloning provides a breakthrough in the treatment of chronic diseases. Scientists and researchers have indulged in many attempts to clone humans in order to treat various diseases like heart illnesses (Naik, 2011). According to Ashwini Ambekar, resolving heart problems and reverse aging are some of the benefits of cloning (2009). Experts indicate that patients with heart problems can be assisted as heart cells can be cloned, and then are injected to patients with heart failure thus curing their problems. These healthy cloned cells are injected in damaged heart areas. This will provide solutions to the aching problem of heart failure, since heart failure is registered as among the chronic diseases affecting the world population. Hence, human cloning will assist in easing the high levels of people being affected with the disease. Human cloning can also be used to repair damaged human organs and tissues as well as curing conditions such as Alzheimer and diabetes. Consequently, organs such as kidney and liver can be cloned and therefore utilized as transplants. Leukemia can be cured as bone marrow could also be cloned. Therefore, organ transplantation could utilize the cloning technology to help patients in getting a second chance in life. This will prove helpful as acquiring organs to enable transplantation is a very hard process and usually takes weeks or sometimes months. The benefits of human cloning technology could be applied in reversing defective genes, which is looming large especially in women. Defective genes result in illnesses such as Tay-sachs disease and Down’s syndrome. Therefore, this process is helpful in providing therapeutic cure and solution to the medical sphere (Ambekar,  2009). Cloning know-how can also be used in plastic surgery procedures like breast implants. This will help in getting rid of secondary material like silicone gel, used instead of actual human tissues. This will assist in the prevention of health problems consequently. In the case of fire or any accidents, experts will be able to conduct reconstructive surgeries on patients without fear of any failure. This will help society, as individuals are often involved in horrific accidents that resulting in unrecoverable injuries to organs like the spinal cord and limbs. Therefore, cloning helps in assisting these individuals to have a normal life after accidents of this nature (Naik, 2011). Despite its benefits, many attempts at creating clones of humans have failed resulting in disfigured monsters characterized by abnormalities and severe complications. Caulfield argues and views cloning as unethical as it opposes the biblical scriptures (2003). Therefore, many proponents feel that the health implications of cloning humans are far greater to overlook. This health safety issues have not been resolved and are far from the process. This is amplified by the death of the first clown sheep Dolly, as it highlights the complications that the process could have on cloned human beings. Various arguments have been cited in relation to concerns about human dignity. Caulfield cites that UNESCO’s “Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human rights” is against human cloning as it opposes “practices which are contrary to human dignity, such as reproductive cloning.” Moreover, the World Health Organization views that human cloning is unethical and contravenes with the human rights (Caulfield, 2003). Consequently, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights argues that cloning genetically humans is a misuse of medicine and biology as it defies the human dignity. Therefore, relevant protocols on human rights view that the process will degrade the rights of humans (Caulfield, 2003). Unethical issues characterize reproductive cloning. Cloning contravenes and affects society’s dignity or the dignity of humanity. Moreover, the replication of individuals’ genomes degrades human dignity. The whole process is unethical as it compromises the uniqueness of an individual, as a person’s genome is significant to his/her individuality. Human cloning changes the spectrum of the contemporary world as it alters the concept of individuality. Moreover, the process of creation would be different from how God intended. Just like the industrial revolution, human cloning would change humanity by creating various classes of humans, which would be unpredictable (Caulfield, 2003). Religious views vary significantly with those of the scientists as they value the concept of human reproductive cloning as unacceptable. The various religion spheres argue that the process defies with the religions norm. Wayne Jackson argues that there is no apparent offense in cloning vegetable; however, it is unethical to do the same on human being. He states that human beings are not animals as Darwinists claim (Jackson, 2013). He clearly states that they were created in the image of God, hence unique. Wayne Jackson urges humanity to condemn cloning in reference to various aspects. First, he asks why scientists are engaging in the process of human cloning when they that claim earth is overpopulated. He argues that it is the view of scientists that resulted in individuals like Adolf Hitler. He further states that Christians must condemn the process since it defies the family structure and relationship between parents and children. The family structure is a result of God’s plan to humanity. Therefore, in indulging in human cloning activities humanity would be going against God’s plan. The author concludes by indicating that only God’s has the power of creating humans as the Supreme Being. According to Wayne Jackson, human cloning should be banned due to its unethical nature. Conducting experiments and research on human beings is immoral as the subjects are prone to risks. The experiments have a high rate of failure and inefficiency. Research indicates that almost 90% of attempts in cloning usually end up in failure in order to create a viable replica. In the production of a viable offspring, more than a hundred nuclear transfer processes are required. Moreover, these clowns are more prone to contracting diseases like tumor, as they are characterized by a weak immune system. Scientists indicate that animal subjects have a tendency of having a short life span and poor health. This means that human subjects will have the same characteristics. For instance, the first clone sheep in Australia died a mysterious death, while her autopsy did not resolve the mystery of her death (Jackson, 2013). Consequently, human cloning is a very expensive process, which requires large amounts of resources that governments should fund. Government funds and food in large amounts are required to nourish the subjects. Currently, individuals are suffering in various countries, and the amounts utilized in the cloning projects can be diverted to assist in humanitarian movements instead of creating unpredictable individuals (Adnan, 2010). Researchers and scientists too have contradictive views on the process of human productive cloning, as they tend to attribute it to various benefits. Ashwini Ambekar further suggests that scientists are not on a mission to imitate or mock God, but their attempts are trying to find possible therapeutic measures to chronic illnesses. Scientists argue that on a successful procedure of cloning various benefits are associated in the process (Ambekar, 2009). Conclusion The process of cloning human beings has various pros and cons to society. The world has unique individuals, and by creating clones, the attempts will prove unethical. Therefore, the cloning of human beings should be illegalized. Measures should be put to ensure that attempts are not made to contravene this. The process is very controversial as it puts the lives of individuals at risks. Moreover, its benefits have not been proven as effective to be considered true. Therefore, the process is not beneficial to humanity. With the rapid advancement in the technology, we should be very careful in order to avoid degrading human dignity. The evolution in the field of sciences and biotechnology will prove to create changes in societal order. References Adnan , A. (2010). Risks and Disadvantages of Therapeutic Cloning. December 28.2013. Retrieved from: Ambekar, A. (2009). Benefits of Human Cloning. December 28, 2013. Retrieved  from: Caulfield, T. (2003). Human cloning laws, human dignity and the poverty of the policy making dialogue. December 28, 2013. Retrieved from: Jackson, W. (2013). The Ethics of Human Cloning: ChristianCourier.com. December 28, 2013, Retrieved from: < https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/353-ethics-of-human-cloning> NAIK, G. (2011). Human Stem Cells Created Using Cloning Technique - WSJ.com. December 28. 2013 Retrieved from: Read More