One of the newest steps in the age of scientific exploration is cloning. Cloning can be
beneficial to the animal population and save endangered species. Different animals have been
cloned by scientists as we have advanced our scientific technology. Cloning could also benefit
medicine for human patients, as well as be an alternate option to mothers who are infertile.
Scientists should continue to explore in the art of cloning as it can help the animal population
and possibly benefit the human population in the near future.
Cloning is the science of creating another organism that is a duplicate genetic copy of
another. There are currently three types of cloning technologies that are used: DNA Cloning,
Reproductive Cloning, and Therapeutic Cloning. DNA Cloning is the transfer of selected cells
from an organism to a bacterial plasmid. The selected DNA is then planted in a new host cell,
where it will continue to grow and feed off of the host. Although this technology started in the
1970’s, today, it has become a common practice in molecular biology labs (Programs).
Reproductive cloning is the creation of another animal with the same DNA as another
existing animal through a process called “Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer”. Scientists transfer
genetic material from an adult donor cell’s nucleus to an egg without a nucleus and genetic
material. The new egg containing DNA from the donor cell is given electric current and
chemicals to stimulate cell division. When the embryo that is cloned is at an acceptable stage, it
is transferred to a female host’s uterus where it will develop until its birth (Programs).
Therapeutic Cloning is the production of human embryos for research. This process is
not to clone human beings, but to create cells that are used to treat disease, study human
development, as well as cloning organs used for human transplants (Programs). The process
begins with the same procedure used in DNA Cloning. The embryo would grow for two weeks,
then its stem cells would be extracted and grow into a small human tissue or complete human
organ (Robinson)
An Asian Carp was the first successful clone ever occured in 1963. The carp was cloned
by scientist Tong Dizhou, who ten years later cloned an Euopean Crucian Carp (Drea). Dolly the
Sheep was the first successful mammal to ever be cloned from adult DNA in 1996. She lived to
be six years old which is half of her expected age. On February 14, 2003, she died of lung
cancer and crippling arthritis, an examination of Dolly showed that other than her illnesses, she
was perfectly healthy; she also was a mother to six lambs, who were born naturally (Programs).
Reproductive Cloning could be a positive solution to reviving extinct species, as well as
saving endangered species from extinction. Scientists have resurrected an extinct species of
mountain goat called the Pyrenean ibex which had been extinct for a few years. The clone was
created by scientists who used domestic goats to conceive the kid. On the other hand, the cloned
ibex only lived for a few minutes and died due to deformation of the lungs. Although the
process resulted with the clone living for a few minutes, it proved that it is possible for scientists
to clone an endangered species. Endangered animals are so rare to find and difficult to breed,
that researchers are considering Dolly-like cloning as a possible alternative (Connor). A wild ox
called a guar was the first clone of an endangered wild animal which took place in 2001. The
wild ox lived for forty eight hours after dying of infection. Also in 2001, the successful cloning
of an endangered wild sheep was reported in Italy. The baby mouflon continues to live at a
wildlife center in Sardinia today (Programs).
Human cloning could be beneficial to mankind, and improve medicine. Therapeutic
cloning is hoped by scientists to one day be used to produce organs and tissues for transplants.
Scientists hope to generate organs from cloned human embryos which would reduce the need for
organ donation. For this to be possible, DNA would be taken from the patient and placed into an
egg without a nucleus. After the egg begins to divide, embryotic stem cells would be harvested.
Embryotic stem cells are cells that can be transformed into all types of tissue. These stem cells
would create an organ or tissue that matches genetically to the patient, which would then be
transplanted without the risk of rejection. Therapeutic cloning could also be used to produce
healthy cells that can replace those that have been damaged by diseases such as Parkinson’s or
Alzheimer’s (Programs).
Women, who have no biological or social children, tend to show more signs of
psychological stress then those who have conceived (Rader). Adoption has been the alternative
to couples who are unable to conceive children. Reproductive cloning has been thought of as
another possible solution to women who are infertile. Women would be able to choose the
qualities they would like their children to develop such as, athletic, smart, nice, funny, attentive,
and any other qualities that would create the perfect offspring. With this technology, women
would be able to conceive their own offspring as well as “customize” their biological qualities.
It would also be effective to single women who want to raise children on their own without the
presence of a spouse, because they would be free of complications related to the second parent
(Parker).
In this technology we have come very far. Many animals have been cloned and new
possibilities with cloning are being thought of by scientists. Most of the cloning of various
animals has been successful, with only few defects. I don’t believe it is immoral to continue
with this research because it can only benefit animals and humans as we continue to clone. If
scientists continue their research of cloning animals, endangered species could be saved from
extinction, and cloned animals could be immune to viruses or diseases. Also, extinct animals
could possibly be brought back, if their dna is cloned. If extinct animals were to be revived, then
we could study their dna and understand how they were killed and even come up with new
medicines that may cure the diseases that wiped them out. For humans, cloned organs could
save lives and be stronger against viruses.
The future of cloning is unknown, scientists hope to one day fully clone human beings.
Kind of like in the movies where a human being is zapped and an exact copy pops out right next
to them. That science will not come for a long time, but the cloning of human beings is sure on
the horizon as scientists are furthering their research and attempting to create the best breed of
humans that are strong and cannot be attacked by diseases.
Works Cited
Connor, Steve. "The Big Question: Could cloning be the answer to saving endangered species from
extinction?" 3 February 2009. The Independent. 26 November 2010
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-big-question-could-cloning-be-the-answerto-saving-endangered-species-from-extinction1543657.html>.
Drea. 20 Animals That Have Been Cloned. 19 February 2009. 26 November 2010
<http://www.businesspundit.com/20-animals-that-have-been-cloned/>.
Parker, Randall. "Cloning, Biotech, and the Future of the Family." 26 January 2003. FuturePundit. 26
November 2010 <http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/000910.html>.
Programs, U.S. Department of Energy Genome. "Cloning Fact Sheet." 11 May 2009. Human Genome
Project Information. 26 November 2010
<http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml>.
Rader, Linda. "Infertility is a Disease." n.d. HumanCloning.org. 26 November 2010
<http://www.humancloning.org/infertildis.php>.
Robinson, B.A. "Therapeutic Cloning: How it is done; possible benefits." 17 Aug 2000.
ReligiousTolerance.org. 29 November 2010 <http://www.religioustolerance.org/clo_ther.thm>.