Cloning
When people think of cloning, they probably think of identical people.
This is cloning, but there are much more practical ways of its use. Although
cloning humans can be considered unethical, there are many different types
of cloning and they could be put to good use.
First of all, we do have the technology to “clone” humans. The main
reason that we do not clone ourselves is because it is considered unethical.
Congress has been debating over passing a legislation banning human
cloning1. Another reason cloning is unethical is because in 100 attempts to
clone animals, only about 1 to 2 are successful, and with humans the results
would most likely be the same2. We don’t have enough information about
reproductive cloning to try to clone humans. It could end up as a potential
danger. Scientists also have no idea about how the brain will develop in a
cloned human.
Although human cloning is unethical, there are many other types of
cloning that could be used: Recombinant DNA cloning, reproductive
cloning, and therapeutic cloning. Recombinant DNA cloning is when a
selected DNA fragment from an organism into a bacterial plasmid, which
can make copies of that gene. Reproductive cloning is easily known as the
type of cloning where you make a copy of a living organism, such as a
human. Therapeutic cloning is the production of human embryos, but not to
create humans. The embryos are used to retrieve stem cells so that they can
be used to for medical purposes such as replacing cancerous cells.
Next, these types of cloning can be put to good use. If the DNA of an
extinct organism was found, that organism could be cloned using
recombinant DNA cloning, thus bringing back the species. In reproductive
cloning, a dying organism that is of importance, such as the last of its
species, could be reproduced using reproductive cloning. With therapeutic
cloning, researchers believe that the extracted stem cells could be used for
new medical treatments3.
In conclusion, cloning does not have to involve the copying of another
human; it has much more beneficial, practical uses. Cloning is not only and
option for the future but it has been used in the past. For example, scientists
successfully cloned a sheep named Dolly in February 19964. With cloning,
we could make many breakthroughs in the scientific world.
Vaughn Kottler
1. “Cloning Fact Sheet.” (2006). Human Genome Project. Retrieved: April 30,
2009 from:
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml
2. “Cloning Fact Sheet.” (2006). Human Genome Project. Retrieved: March
20, 2006 from:
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml
3. Mayo Clinic staff. (2009). “Stem Cell Transplant.” Mayo Clinic. Retrieved:
May 1, 2009 from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081
4. Bruce, Donald. (1998).”Looking at the ethics of technology for a New
Millennium.” Society, Religion and Technology Project. Retrieved: May 1,
2009 from: http://www.srtp.org.uk/clonan3.htm