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Human Cloning: What is the outcome ?
Jacob Aza
Eduardo Cardenas
Tanya Herrera
Joshua Izquierdo
Texas A&M International University
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Abstract
The replication of human beings has been only a mere thought that seemed impossible; having
an exact replica of yourself or anyone with the same attributes has only been done is sci-fi films.
Though wouldn’t it be great to have that capability especially with the technological
advancements that we have evolved to? There are different viewpoints on this subject whether
we should attempt human cloning or completely eradicate it from our to-do list. We wonder
whether it is possible for the clones to be as similar to their originators. We also wonder if they
would adapt well to the idea that they are just clones. The people against human cloning claim
that there is no greater being than God, whom they believe is the sole creator of humans. They
also believe that if we create humans, we would be acting as the new gods and it would lead to
the inevitable apocalyptic world that they have been trying to prevent for ages. The people for
cloning see it as a benefit with the possibility of annihilating a disease like in stem cell cloning,
possibly saving mankind, or even bringing the joy of life to a couple who is not fortunate enough
to bring in their own.
Keywords: Human Cloning, attributes, evolved, eradicate, God, creator, apocalyptic, world,
disease, mankind
A View on Clones
When we close our eyes and think of human cloning we think of two huge pods that are
linked up together with huge wires. A random person enters the pod and within seconds an exact
twin-like person appears in the other pod. It’s almost like magic or movie magic rather than
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reality. But, this is just an exaggerated concept of reality. Scientists have started developing ways
to successfully clone human beings. Although it is quite more elaborate than wiring, pods, and
electricity, it still is possible. Clones aren’t like creating robots we are creating real living people,
with feelings. Feelings that work like ours and could possibly see themselves as nothing but a
science experiment. Moral or immoral there are quite an abundant amount of reasons for each
side of this controversy. In this essay we are going to go in depth behind what would be the
outcome.
The Speculation Behind Human Cloning
“Cloning is a process of producing genetically identical organisms. If human cloning
technique is fully developed, it could be used as a whole or partial human cloning, genetic
engineering, or transgenics.” (Elshtain, Kim 2001). This wasn’t even thought of until the late
90’s, when a Scottish scientist, Ian Wilmut, successfully cloned a sheep named Dolly from the
DNA cells from two other sheeps gathered together by Bill Richie. Then immediately, everyone
questioned what would be next step to this scientific process. Human cloning, maybe? It rose a
worldwide debate between god’s power to create man vs. man’s idea of a potentially new
scientific breakthrough. Politicians such as President Clinton took action and passed a bill that
prohibited the act of cloning and any funds given to this cause.” I want to make clear that there is
nothing inherently immoral or wrong with these new techniques used for proper purposes. In
fact, they hold the promise of revolutionary new medical treatments and life-saving cures to
diseases like cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer, better crops and stronger livestock. This
legislation, therefore, will not prohibit the use of these techniques to clone DNA in cells, and it
will not ban the cloning of animals. What the legislation will do is to reaffirm our most cherished
belief about the miracle of human life and the God-given individuality each person possesses. It
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will ensure that we do not fall prey to the temptation to replicate ourselves at the expense of
those beliefs and the lives of innocent children we would produce. Banning human cloning
reflects our humanity. It is the right thing to do.“(Clinton, Bill 1997). What this meant was that
America wasn’t against cloning nor did it ban or make it illegal; America just wasn’t going to
fund any research on cloning or any experiments related to it because it would make reflect
America as a whole negatively. It seems as though America has decided its verdict over the
situation.
What is Known About Human Cloning
For years, genetic specialists, embryologists, and molecular biologists have known what
the result is and they have gathered research trying to prove a new way of fertilization. The
process is called nuclear transplantation. This technique is used when a scientist “transplant[s]
the nucleus from an early stage embryo to an unfertilized egg that had been enucleated. The egg
cell was pricked with a clean glass needle in order to induce a fertilization-like response. The
faux activation of fertilization allowed for extraction of the nuclear material inside while also
activating the host egg cell. Meanwhile, the nucleus of a donor cell was extracted and then
inserted into the newly nucleated and activated egg cell. That process induced development of
the host egg according to the instructions of the newly inserted nucleus, resulting in the
formation of an organism with the same genetic material as the donor cell, or a clone.(Appendix
C). ” Then afterwards, it is placed in a surrogate that carries the clone until delivery. What most
people don’t know is that they aren’t made from like-machines or in actuality man-made, they
just follow a different process but end up with an exact replica of dna, almost like extracting
plant seeds and fertilizing them ourselves to create other like-plants. On paper, the cloning
process seems very synthetic and inhumane. Although, when you talk about what the actual
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process, it isn’t much different than what we have already done with other types of research,
experiments, or medical procedures but some states still find this immoral.
Discussions on Human Cloning
A study conducted in 2003 found that the more religious a person the higher probability
that these individuals would support laws that would restrict or ban the progress of cloning
research(Bainbridge , 2003). “Christ taught another way: it is that of respect for human beings;
the priority of every method of research must be to know the truth about human beings, in order
to serve them and not to manipulate them according to a project sometimes arrogantly seen as
better even than the plan of the Creator“(Paul, John II). Agreeing with the idea of human cloning
for most religious people would conflict with their initial beliefs that God is the sole creator of
living organisms. In a way, religious people are for the greater good of mankind, to be one with
God. With this, we will be treated and cared for by him in the house of God. It is a bit
hypocritical that human cloning is also for the greater good of mankind and how it can aid our
problems, just as religious people look to God as. Yet, they completely overlook this concept and
label it an abomination to us all. Another argument that anti-human cloning people have used is
how Dolly, the first successfully cloned mammal that we had mentioned at the beginning of the
essay, deceased in about 6 years after she was created. They believe that with this data the
longevity of cloned organisms wouldn’t be as long as a natural born human today. People that
want scientist to clone on the other hand obviously are for the study and research of human
cloning.“The Human Cloning Foundation believes that cloning technology can be used to cure
diseases and prolong life. The HCF believes that blood can be cloned, organs can be cloned, and
that infertility can be cured with the use of this new technology. We hope that cloning will help
unlock the secrets of cancer and lead to its cure. Cloning should lead to remarkable advances in
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cosmetic and plastic surgery, as well as anti-aging therapies and other forms of rejuvenation.
Cloning has already revolutionized biology and medicine.”(Smith). They perceive the human
cloning process to be a way to help and save those who have terminal diseases in which our kind
has not been able to get from devoting their lives to Christ or hope. Also, for the infertile who
unfortunately cannot create their own could use human cloning to create their own child. They
truly believe that it is not just to save a few people with a cool new science experiment, it is to
help for the evolution of mankind. Something hypocritical about these people is that if they are
trying to increase human longevity, why is it that their cloned experiments have only lasted a few
years. They want to save lives at the cost of losing another. Both sides of the arguments have
their hypocritic points. Below, there are charts of the people and their thoughts on cloning on
both animals and humans (Appendix A). Also, the percentage of people who think human
cloning is morally acceptable and morally wrong (Appendix B).
The Clones Point of View
We know very well the different aspects of people as to what sides they choose and why,
but what about the clones? How will they adapt or live? How would they see themselves? In a
world where we divide ourselves up into different stereotypical groups of individuals, we tend
reject anyone else who isn’t the similar to us. Just like our forefathers did, they brought in
African Americans to help cultivate the land and act as their slaves to help their civilization grow
and nurture. Overtime they saw the African Americans as something less than a human and more
of an object of possession. They undermined African Americans because they say themselves as
something more valuable, and better, gold versus copper. Wouldn’t that be the case with the
human clones, we are bringing them in to help save and revolutionize mankind, yet would we see
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them as our forefather saw the African Americans. We would label them with lower class as
compared to us and take advantage of them. That is truly morally wrong.
Our Observations and Thoughts
It was just the famous Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart, which launched the
theory on how personality could be genetic. This rare phenomenon was tested on when two
identical twins were adopted by two different families and a plethora of coincidences and
similarities started showing. The families both named them Jim, they both had the same height
and weight. Their dogs and along with their second wives had the same name. They worked in
the same part-time jobs and had similar likes in drinks and cigarettes. They were essentially
almost identical despite being raised in two different environments, the only noticeable
differences were their hairstyles. This research and observation would show evidence that
personalities, attributes, and likes are quite possibly genetic. Clones then have the possibility of
obtaining the same personalities and attributes as their successors.
Conclusion
In essence, whether these clones will live in sadness and confusion feeling. As though
their whole existence is nothing but to replace something that was either lost, or never there they
serve indeed do serve a purpose. The key word in human cloning is “human” , they are humans
and should be treated as such. Cloning our chaotic self-conflicting world,could just duplicate our
problems. Make matters worse, but just like our beliefs that every human was brought here for a
reason then maybe these clones were brought to save mankind. With all the animosity and
hatred comes hope that could cure diseases, increase the evolution of our species to the way we
want it, and create super beings. We can bring hope to couples longing for their bundle of joy, or
even people wanting to bring back their deceased loved ones. There is so much happiness that is
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brought with cloning than lost. There is so much to be gained through human cloning, Whether
its humane or inhumane to people, it would be even more inhumane to leave children and adults
suffering everyday with the false notion that a cure will be obtained or that families will be
started when the true solution iis with human cloning.
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References:
Bainbridge , W. (2003). Religious opposition to cloning . Journal of Evolution and Technology ,
13, Retrieved from http://jetpress.org/volume13/bainbridge.htm
Bender, D., Leone, B., Stalcup, B., Barbour, S., & Roleff , T. (1998). Biomedical ethics opposing
viewpoints. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc.
Cohmer, Sean, "Nuclear Transplantation". Embryo Project Encyclopedia (2011-06-14). ISSN:
1940-5030 http://embryo.asu.edu/handle/10776/1758.
Cloning. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/6028/Cloning.aspx
Gillon, R. (1998, Jan). Human reproductive cloning-a look at the arguments against it and a
rejection of most of them. Retrieved from
p://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297029/pdf/jrsocmed00013-0009.pdf
Human cloning. (1999, June). Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physicianresources/medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/related-policy-topics/stem-cellresearch/human-cloning.page
Journal of Medical Ethics , Vol. 25, No. 2 (Apr., 1999), pp. 108-113
Kim, S. Clara. “Pros and Cons.” University of Dayton. (2001). This book is divided into several
sections of some of the most important topics in the world, human cloning being one of them.
Miller, P. (2012, January). A thing or two about twins. Retrieved from
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/twins/miller-text
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Pope John Paul II. , & (n.d.). Retrieved from http://old.usccb.org/prolife/tdocs/cloning.shtml
Pros and cons of human cloning. (2007, Summer). Opinions of a significant amount of people.
Retrieved from http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-human-cloning-wrong
Pros and cons of human cloning. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://humancloningproject.weebly.com/pros-and-cons-of-reproductive-cloning.html
Roberts , M. (1998). Child versus childmaker. United States of America : Rowman & Littlefield
Publishers, Inc.
Smith, S. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.humancloning.org/
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Appendix A:
Appendix B:
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Appendix C