Discussion 2

The Value of Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive cloning means to create a duplicate of another organism genetically.  The most common method used to create a clone of an organism is somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT, more than eighteen cloned mammals have been created this way though as far as we know none of these have been humans (Center for Genetics and society). In this process the nucleus is removed from a fertilized egg and a somatic cell from the DNA donor is then inserted (Johnson).  This fairly new science has brought about its own ethical debate mostly revolving around what it is to be human and at what point in development should we be recognized as such.

The advocates of reproductive cloning insist that it is a viable option for couples that would like to have a genetically related child but are unable to produce one naturally or with the help of fertility treatments. There is also the possibility that a parent who has lost a child could benefit from creating a clone or a genetic replacement of the deceased child. Both of these arguments are highly controversial and have been met with strong opposition especially from fundamental religious organizations. There are more practical possibilities though for reproductive cloning that include helping bring back a specific animal species from the verge of extinction to possibly bringing back an animal that has been long gone like the woolly mammoth(Library Index). There is also the idea that if your favorite pet dies you could create a genetic replacement as well.

The opponents of reproductive cloning argue that it is unethical because a fertilized egg has to be essentially destroyed in order to create a suitable environment for the DNA to be cloned. It is also not hard to see that a human cloned to replace one that has died by essence devalues their existence. Then there is the safety involved of the person being created as there is a high failure rate in animal cloning and a greater chance for cellular anomalies like cancer and disease (Center for Genetics and society).  So at what point they might ask are we going to draw a line before the science becomes an inhumane experimentation on human beings?

My opinion on the topic of the value of reproductive cloning is probably a bit more on the liberal side than the average person as I do not see a fertilized egg as much more than a group of cells. If it is potentially possible to clone someone like Albert Einstein than wouldn't we be doing the human race a favor? If there was not such a health risk for the cloned individual I don’t think that I would oppose human cloning. I just don’t see it becoming something that would be easily accessible to most people, you would most likely have to invest a great deal of money into having a clone created so I am not sure that it would be abused in the dramatic ways that can be imagined. But it would not be unwise to pass strict regulations protecting the basic human rights of cloned individuals.

Works Cited

“About Reproductive Cloning.” Center for Genetics and society.<http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/section.php?id=16> . Accessed March 1, 2013.

“Cloning-Reproductive Cloning.”Library Indax.<a href="http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2263/Cloning-REPRODUCTIVE-CLONING.html">Cloning - Reproductive Cloning</a>. Accessed March 1, 2013.

Johnson, Michael D. Human Biology Concepts and Current Issues, Sixth Edition. Chapter 17 page 421. Benjamin Cummings 2012.