Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
Cloning at its basics is the use of artificial genetic and reproduction processes to create a genetically identical copy of any biological entity or material (cells, tissues, or genes). For animal or human reproductive cloning, the process is complex. A mature somatic cell, usually a skin cell, is removed and placed into an egg cell (oocyte) where the nucleus has been removed. This can be done directly via a needle or an electric shock to fuse the two. The egg then develops in an early-stage embryo before being placed in the womb of an adult female animal as a surrogate. The clone develops in the womb and eventually, the adult female gives birth, with the new clone having an identical genetic makeup to the organism from which the somatic cell originated (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2021).
The largest breakthrough in cloning occurred in 1997 when scientists in Scotland cloned a sheep Dolly via somatic cell nuclear transfer, also known as reproductive cloning, as described above. Häyry (2018) examines the ethical issues surrounding cloning in his comprehensive article. Immediately after the 1997 event, most countries around the world and international organizations banned cloning. However, the ban does not apply to animals as scientists have cloned several animals since, nor does it apply to the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer which is actively used in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to increase odds of success.
Therefore, the conjecture is that the combination of human cloning using somatic cell nuclear transfer is the primary issue at hand. Virtually all countries prohibit human cloning, while a small minority allows for therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research which may use nuclear transfer, but any cloning done on human somatic cells is not permitted to reach a viable state.
Häyry (2018) identifies three primary ethical issues with human cloning. First is the possibility of asexual reproduction which could lead to distorted families. Experts argue that humanity’s continuous renewal depends on heterosexual reproduction, it allows for the creation and evolution of the human genome as well as the numerous social benefits of families and connections. Asexual organisms are commonly selfish with only a single goal in mind which is to pass their genome as a whole.
The next ethical concern is elements of design, control, and deformed societies. Cloning could destroy contemporary society – if, given the option of human cloning, parents or governments will want control over the reproductive process, which will lead to the destruction of the value of human life, self-awareness and freedom, and the unspoken truth that no human is the ‘maker’ of another. Finally, there is the universal ethical concern that cloning could be used to genetically enhance and customize human beings. Creating enhanced human beings, will lead to the stratification of society based on the genome as well as eliminate many things that make us human, which are flaws, imperfections, and weakness to mortality.
If given a choice to clone a loved one or a favorite animal, especially if they have passed, it is a significant emotional and ethical dilemma. First, to emphasize, I am against cloning living individuals or even personal animals. The only potential for cloning living animals is perhaps something like livestock to generate more food sources. As for an opportunity to create a clone of a deceased creature, to have the potential to see them again and spend time together, I would argue against it. Unfortunately, a clone is simply a physical body, missing the unique characteristics of a person such as personality, intellect, and emotional quotient.
It is unlikely with any realistic technology that scientists could transfer personality across bodies. However, if such technology does get developed at one point, one cannot transfer the ‘soul’ of an individual if one believes in that, and it is also impossible to mimic the upbringing of the person. Therefore, in one way or another, the person will be different from their original self, which would be highly unnatural and abnormal.
References
Häyry, M. (2018). Ethics and cloning. British Medical Bulletin, 128(1), 15–21. Web.
National Human Genome Research Institute. (2021). Cloning fact sheet. Web.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.