Herman 1
Theresa Herman
Intermediate Composition
Claudia Skutar
6 June 2013
Abstract
Some of the greatest advancements in scientific research happened in the last fifty years
as scientist discovered how to create life from almost nothing; to make a perfect copy of one
loving thing and result in two creatures, clones of each other. This was first accomplished in the
1970s when a scientist first successfully cloned a salamander by taking the DNA of one
salamander and artificially manipulating the cells to multiply and grow into a living copy of the
original salamander. Since this first success in the field of cloning, scientist explored new
possibilities leading to the first successful cloning of a mature large mammal in the form of a
sheep named Dolly. There are many criminal acts and human rights being violated with the
creation of a human clone. Advancement in the name of scientific exploration is one matter, but
the creation of a human clone raises bioethical, political, and religious red flags. The idea of
bioethics is new, but as the possibility of human cloning grows, regulations need to be made to
preserve the dignity of humanity and to ensure that science never violates human rights and
brings the world into a science fiction novel.
Herman 2
Proposal
Innovation and Technological advancement has always been part of human nature. The
creation of something new and exciting has always been encouraged and celebrated. But with
every advancement and new scientific breakthroughs made, scientific innovation creeps closer
and closer to the arbitrary line of what can be accepted in society as ethical. Some of the greatest
advancements in scientific research has happened in the last fifty years as scientist have
discovered how to create life from almost nothing; to make a perfect copy of one loving thing
and result in two creatures, clones of each other. This was first accomplished in the 1970s when
a scientist first successfully cloned a salamander by taking the DNA of one salamander and
artificially manipulating the cells to multiply and grow into a living copy of the original
salamander. Since this first success in the field of cloning, scientist explored new possibilities
leading to the first successful cloning of a mature large mammal in the form of a sheep named
Dolly.
The creation of Dolly in Korea opened the eyes of the world to the inevitability of human
cloning and the bioethical issues associated with human cloning. Human cloning would change
the world forever, but arguments are now made expressing the ramifications of crossing that
ethical line of creating such artificial “human” life. The Dignity of humanity needs to be
preserved. There are many criminal and human rights being violated with the creation of a
human clone. Advancement in the name of scientific exploration is one matter, but the creation
of a human clone raises bioethical, political, and religious red flags. Science can only go so far.
Regulations need to be made to prevent a violation of human rights. Some fear one day a
Constitution will be made for “We the People” and the clones of the United States of America.
Herman 3
Evaluative Annotated Bibliography
Ahlberg, Jaime, and Harry Brighouse. "An Argument Against Human Cloning1." Canadian
Journal of Philosophy 40.4 (2010): 539-66. Web. 3 June 2013.
<http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/846785960?accountid=2909
>. An argument against human cloning with a focus on exploring past arguments for and
against human cloning and how they have changed over time. This article explores the
rights of cloning or the lack of those rights. This article gives many specific arguments
against human cloning specifically about the implications of human cloning and
preserving human dignity. The authors are professors at the University of Florida and The
University of Wisconsin-Madison. The article is published in an accredited journal and
has ample resources to shoe they are using credible information and research.
Annas, George J. "Cloning and the U.S. Congress." The New England Journal of Medicine
346.20 (2002): 1599-601. Proquest. 16 May 2002. Web. 6 June 2013.
<http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/223938226>. This article
talks about the legislation being voted on in Congress in 2002 concerning stem cell
research and human cloning. Congress felt the therapeutic cloning needed to be taken out
of the mix so that the legislation could pass. There was an apparent need to consider each
issue as a different piece of legislation. Talks about the positions of the president, the
senate, the congress, and the compromises made between them.
Callahan, Daniel. "Cloning: Then and Now." Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 7
(1998): 141-44. Web. 3 June 2013.
Herman 4
<http://journals.ohiolink.edu.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/CALLAHAN_DANIEL.p
df?issn=09631801&issue=v07i0002&article=141_ctan>. Looks at how the possibilities
of human cloning have changed since the idea of human cloning first became a
possibility. Focuses arguments on the response of scientific research and technological
developments on the area of cloning, reproductive rights, and the research possibilities
involved with infertility relief. This article was published by Cambridge University Press
in a special journal exploring innovations in cloning, technology, and scientific research.
"Controversy Surrounding First Human Cloning." Miami Times 4 Dec. 2001, 12th ed.: 3A.
Miami Times. 4 Dec. 2001. Web. 6 June 2013.
<http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/363115527>. This newspaper
article is the press release from 2001 talking about the first time scientists have cloned
human embryos. These cloned embryos are to be used in therapeutic cloning, as they
called it. The cloned cells will be used for treatment as diseases using the patient’s own
cells to reduce the chance of rejection. This article Gives information about President
Bush's opinion on human cloning.
Lerner, Ed K., and Brenda W. Lerner. "Human Cloning." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science 3.4
(2008): 2174-177. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 6 June 2013.
<http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE%7C
CX2830101181&v=2.1&u=ucinc_main&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&authCount=1>. This
article is about human cloning with specific examples. It defines terms and gives an
overview of what human cloning is and how it is being used. Gives examples of how
human cloning is being used in stem cell research.
Herman 5
McDougall, R. "A Resource Based Version of the Argument That Cloning Is an Affront to
Human Dignity." Journal of Medical Ethics 34.9 (2008): 259-61. Web. 3 June 2013.
<http://www.jstor.org.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/stable/27720056>. This article explores the
bioethics and political response to the cloned sheep named dolly. Arguments against
cloning from the stand point of preserving human dignity. This reference refutes cloning
from a scientific advancement standpoint. The author is a professor and works for the
Center for Health and Society in Austria.
Pulman, Bertrand. "Issues Involved in Cloning: Sociology and Bioethics." La Revue Française
De Sociologie 48 (2007): 129-56. Proquest. Web. 6 June 2013.
<http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/209939053>. This article
looks at the issues surrounding human cloning from the French perspective. It talks about
the issues in the French culture and with the French government about human cloning. It
shows a different perspective and argument against human cloning from a different
country and the thinking of a different culture on the issues.
Shapiro, Robyn S. "Future Issues in Transplantation Ethics: Ethical and Legal Controversies in
Xenotransplantation, Stem Cell, and Cloning Research." Transplant Reviews 22.3 (2008):
210-14. Enslaver. Web. 6 June 2013.
<http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/science/article/pii/S0955470X0800
0323>. This Article Reviews the prospects of transplant medicine and talks about the new
technology being reviewed as a replacement for the lack of transplant organs.
Researchers are looking to stem cells research and cloning research to help with the gap
between demand for transplant organs and the organs available from donors. Talks about
arguments for cloning.
Herman 6
Tannert, Christof. "Thou Shalt Not Clone." Embro Reports 7.3 (2006): 238-40. Web. 3 June
2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1456885/?report=classic>. This
reference gives an ethical argument against human cloning. The article focuses on human
rights and religious aspects of the arguments. This article Talks about the criminal aspects
of human cloning. The reference Gives information about how cloning works and the
differences between cloning and some natural forms of reproduction.
Wilson, Jim. "Cloning Humans." Popular Mechanics 179.6 (2002): 42-44. Web. 3 June 2013.
<http://search.proquest.com.proxy.libraries.uc.edu/docview/216777084>. Gives the
history of cloning and what can be expected in the future from human cloning. Gives
many examples of the current research being done with human cloning. Explores the
ethical resistance scientists are experiencing with continued research into cloning. Talks
about the cloning research conducted in Korea with sheep and the laws made against
further research into human cloning. Explores the inevitability of human cloning.