Ethics Versus Science In Human Cloning
Generally, “cloning is the process of developing offspring which are similar to their parents” (Voneky & Wolfrum 25). Though cloning is perceived as something unnatural, sometimes it happens naturally.
There have been ethical issues concerning whether human cloning can be officially authorized or not. Biological implications are also major concerns in the science of human cloning. Also, ethical perceptions, especially from religious groupings, differ with scientists as they view the process as a challenge to the supernatural. Though many ill-fated perceptions have been raised against cloning, the practice has great benefits in human society, especially to people who are infertile.
In fact, scientifically, cloning invention has not been a waste since people who are involved in an accident can still live. Actually, some of the casualties’ damaged human organs can be replaced successfully due to the scientific invention of therapeutic cloning.
Cloning Controversy
According to Voneky and Wolfrum, in the past, modern scientists claimed that they victoriously adopted the cloning process in order to resolve human health challenges (20). For example, modern scientists employed scientific cloning to generate stem cells from human embryos. Modern scientists explained that they intended to generate stem cells that could develop in any cell of human organs with an intention of alleviating health problems and disorders. There have been heated discussions concerning whether embryonic stem cell research should be practiced or not.
This shows that Stem Cell Research is not ethical in several ways. However, “some people viewed that the only way to resolve this challenge is to adopt Adult Stem Cell Research” (Voneky & Wolfrum 20). This portrays people’s perception of embryos as something different from human beings. Generally, the usefulness of stem cells in medical research has influenced people to overlook the impacts of ethical issues concerning the same at the medical level.
The Science of Human Cloning
Artificial cloning has not been successful since the clones are normally liable to experience health challenges and they wear out faster than natural organs. For instance, reproductive cloning is the process of cloning embryos with intention of implantation artificially. Also, therapeutic cloning is cloning embryos with the aim of ruining them in order to generate stem cells. Therefore, human cloning should be regulated; no medical practitioners should be allowed to clone unless authorized to do so. This will ensure that medics and researchers are regulated from unethical practices in the sensitive field of cloning.
Benefits of Human Cloning
“Certain individuals opine that embryonic cloning is useful, particularly in controlling Eugenics” (Voneky & Wolfrum 34). Genetic Engineering together with human cloning has brought much certainty to American society. This is due to the fact that human cloning is capable of producing artificial human organs that have psychological and physical competencies, and offer an alternative to infertile humans.
Besides, “therapeutic cloning is a scientific study through which cells from a donor’s skin are inserted into a fertilize egg whose nucleus has been removed” (Harris 3). Indeed, the consequent egg would split. That may lead to the formation of blastocyst. Moreover, “stem cells would then be extracted from blastocyst” (Harris 32) and be used in research aimed at controlling diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, among others. Indeed, if therapeutic cloning is practiced, many casualties can easily obtain the required body tissues.
However, some people are opposed to therapeutic cloning because the practice is perceived as murderous. In fact, the destruction of embryonic cells in order to extract stem cells is something that has been seen as murder. Moreover, therapeutic cloning may lead to biological problems such as the formation of tumors or other health disorders and complications.
Works Cited
Harris, John. On Cloning. London: Routledge, 2004. Print.
Voneky, Silja, and Wolfrum Rudijer. Human Dignity and Human Cloning. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff, 2004. Print.
