Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Human Cloning
The Cloning of Human Beings
Cloning is the creation of an exact biological twin generated from the DNA of a donor. In effect, a person creates an exact copy, with the exact genetic sequence, from their own DNA. While the cloning of human beings has been the realm of science fiction, the creation of sheep clones has pushed the idea of human cloning into the range of possibilities. At present, the idea of human cloning is almost universally repulsive, but over time that may no longer be the case. And with the coming reality of human cloning a number of ethical considerations must be addressed. Leon Kass, in his paper entitled "Cloning of Human Beings," presents a number of arguments against the idea of human cloning including (1) the ethical implications of experimenting on human beings, (2) concerns over the identity of the clone and its ability to remain an individual, (3) fear about the possible "manufacturing" of humans, and (4) the impact of cloning on the family unit. On the other hand, Robert Wachbroit, in "Genetic Encores: The Ethics of Human Cloning," presents a rebuttal to the concerns of those who oppose human cloning and discusses the potential benefits of cloning human beings.
Leon...
His first objection involves the interpretation of cloning as an "unethical experiment on the child-to-be," not only because of the possible mishaps that can occur, but because a future clone could not consent to its creation. (Mappes 566) Secondly, Kass brings up the idea of identity and individuality, and exactly who is the clone, and what is their relationship with the DNA donor and other family members. Kass also thinks that there could be a problem with a clone's individual identity and whether there would be unfair and unrealistic expectations placed on the clone. Next Kass tackles the idea that cloning would transform the very nature of procreation into a mass production industry. Not only would cloning dehumanize the clones, turning them into a "product," but it could also turn the clone into the "property" of the parent; clones may no longer be considered a new life with human rights, but simply a copy owned by some other person. Finally Kass discusses the impact cloning could have on the family unit and how children are now procreated, or made by mixing DNA from two parents, and therefore a new life form, genetically independent of either parent. There is what Kass describes as the "open and forward-looking nature of parent-child relations," which clones, being an exact copy of someone,…
Works Cited
Mappes, Thomas and David DeGrazia. Biomedical Ethics. Boston: McGraw Hill,
2001. Print.
"Animals that are experiencing dwindling numbers could be cloned to prevent their extinction. Taiwanese scientists claimed to have made five clones of an endangered pig to save this species" (Anonymous). While some say man should not play God there are others like Edmund Erde who disagree and say that "playing God" is a phrase that is "muddle-headed" and "nonsensical" and should be deserted (Edmund Erde, p.594). For those who
Human Cloning Debate When Frankenstein was adapted for stage in 1823 the production's title was Presumption; or, The Fate of Frankenstein. A Victorian audience was concerned with the theme of a man's ambition to replace God by creating a new species. Equal emphasis was placed on this aspect of the novel in the 1831 introduction of Frankenstein, "It is Mary Shelly's critique of where such highly abstracted creative powers can lead
Human Genome Project One of the primary concerns of the biological sciences today is human health. The more information is made known about the human body, the more curative and preventive steps can be taken to ensure the longevity and health of the human body. This is one of the ends of the Human Genome Project (HGP), which was concluded in 2003. The project ran for 13 years and was coordinated
Human Cloning The subject of human cloning was once the stuff of science fiction novels and television programs. As technology and science improves, the creation of clones has become, potentially, a real likelihood in the impending future. For the follow, the definition of human cloning is that which has been designated by the American Medical Association: The term "cloning" will refer to the production of genetically identical organisms via somatic cell nuclear
(Weiler, 1998) Weiler states that in relation to the offspring the following must be examined closely: 1) a single parent (genetically) of the offspring which is at the same time a genetic sibling. This issue parallels the non-zygotic fertilization; 2) Multiple twinship. Cloning a number of brothers or sisters from the same cell is similar to the case of twins only more extreme due to the intervention occurring in the process of
Legal costs might also haunt governments that allow cloning research. To prevent complications related to direct government investments in cloning research, legislation could open the door for privately-funded cloning research projects while at the same time banning federally- or state-funded research projects. However, most opponents of cloning cite the ethical costs involved in cloning legislation. Opponents of stem cell research sometimes "argue that permitting nuclear transplantation would open the door