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Viva Eng

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Tanvi Chelamkuri
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24 views2 pages

Viva Eng

Uploaded by

Tanvi Chelamkuri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Human Cloning: Ethical and Scien fic Perspec ves

Human cloning has been a subject of fascina on and controversy ever since the
cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996. While science fic on has long explored the
idea of cloning, modern scien fic advances have made it a tangible reality,
albeit with numerous ethical, legal, and social challenges. This essay delves into
the science behind human cloning, its poten al benefits, and the significant
ethical concerns it raises, offering a balanced view of the topic.
Understanding Human Cloning
Human cloning involves crea ng a gene cally iden cal copy of a human. There
are two types of cloning: reproduc ve and therapeu c. Reproduc ve cloning
aims to create a new individual, whereas therapeu c cloning is focused on
crea ng stem cells for medical treatments, such as organ regenera on or
trea ng degenera ve diseases. The process typically involves soma c cell
nuclear transfer (SCNT), where the nucleus from a donor cell is transferred into
an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed. The embryo that forms from this
process can either develop into a full organism in reproduc ve cloning or be
harvested for stem cells in therapeu c cloning.
The Poten al Benefits of Cloning
The poten al medical benefits of cloning, par cularly therapeu c cloning, are
immense. Organ cloning could help resolve the severe shortage of organ
donors, saving lives and reducing the likelihood of organ rejec on in transplant
pa ents. Moreover, cloning could advance the field of regenera ve medicine,
helping to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes by
repairing damaged ssues or organs.
In addi on, gene c research through cloning can help scien sts be er
understand the human genome, contribu ng to advancements in the
treatment of gene c disorders. For couples facing infer lity or at risk of passing
on gene c diseases, reproduc ve cloning may present an opportunity to have
gene cally related children without these risks.
Ethical Concerns
However, human cloning is not without significant ethical challenges. One of
the primary concerns is the moral status of the cloned embryo. In therapeu c
cloning, embryos are created and then destroyed to harvest stem cells, raising
ques ons about the value and rights of these embryos. Many argue that
crea ng life only to destroy it is ethically unacceptable, equa ng it to playing
with human life.
Reproduc ve cloning also raises ques ons about the iden ty and individuality
of clones. Would clones be treated as full human beings, or would they face
discrimina on and ethical dilemmas surrounding their rights and societal roles?
There is also concern that cloning could lead to "designer babies", where
gene c manipula on could be used to select desirable traits, leading to a
poten al loss of human diversity and the commodifica on of human life.
Another ethical dilemma is the psychological impact on clones themselves.
Clones may struggle with issues of self-iden ty, knowing they are a copy of
another human being. The expecta ons placed on them, par cularly if cloned
from a deceased individual, could be psychologically damaging.
Legal and Societal Challenges
Globally, there is no consensus on how to regulate human cloning.
Interna onal laws on cloning vary widely, with some countries imposing strict
bans on both therapeu c and reproduc ve cloning, while others allow research
under certain condi ons. The United Na ons has called for a universal ban on
reproduc ve cloning but has le therapeu c cloning regula ons up to
individual na ons.
Addi onally, paten ng gene c material has raised concerns about ownership
and control over human DNA. If gene c material can be patented, it opens the
door to corporate ownership of human genomes, poten ally leading to
exploita on and abuse.
Conclusion
Human cloning presents an array of opportuni es for medical advancements,
but it is not without serious ethical, legal, and psychological challenges. The
poten al benefits of therapeu c cloning, par cularly in organ regenera on and
gene c research, are promising. However, the ethical concerns, par cularly
surrounding reproduc ve cloning, cannot be ignored. Striking a balance
between scien fic advancement and moral responsibility is crucial. As the
technology develops, society must engage in an ongoing ethical debate to
ensure that human cloning is used in a way that respects human dignity and
individuality.

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