Do The Possible Benefits Of Cloning Outweigh The Risks Essay

Cloning is the technological development of new cells from naturally existing cells with a view to developing super qualities. This leads to production of one or more individual plants or animals (Partly or wholly) that are genetically identical to an original plant or animal There are two types of cloning: Artificial twinning. Its development is similar to the natural development of twins . It is also called Embryo cloning. The development of human embryo starts with in vitro (out of tissue) process. It involves mixing of eggs and sperm cells in a glass. After fertilization, the zygote develops into blastula by duplication into two cells, then 4, then 8. By chemical means, the ‘Zona Pellucida’ which covers and provides nutrients to the cells is removed. This is followed by division of blastula into individual cells which are then allowed to develop independently in separate glass dishes. Adult DNA cloning This involves a procedure where a cell is taken from a mammary tissue of mature animal while its DNA is dorminant. It is then fused with an ovum which has its nucleus removed. This fertilized egg is then stimulated through a short electric current. These cells are then planted in mature females, which, for a successful cloning procedure should give out an offspring. The argument against Cloning is ethically wrong It is indeed true that cloning affects the individual’s personality that people often hold on to especially where human beings are involved; . It affects genetic variation because clones are being artificially developed and results from these procedures can be looked down upon as improper citizens and then be treated worse than the rest. The effect of this is basically the psychological impact on the individuals treated as inferior. The perception to this is that, this procedure is developed in unnatural and a process considered foreign and scary . I t is thus regarded as another degradation of the moral concepts regarding humanism and spiritualism where creation and reproduction are considered a supernaturally controlled. â€Å"†¦ [Medical] methods that fail to respect the dignity and value of the person must always be avoided. I am thinking in particular of attempts at human cloning with a view to obtaining organs for transplants: these techniques, insofar as they involve the manipulation and destruction of human embryos, are not morally acceptable, even when their proposed goal is good in itself. † Pope John Paul II in an address before International Congress on Transplants on 2000-AUG-29. 2. It is worth noting that people of different opinion about cloning recognize that its very goal is good and important. However in depth analysis of benefits of this technology need no more emphasis as depicted in different fields where cloning is applied. The argument for; Use of cloning in medicine. Cloning has far reaching importance in the applied biomedical research. The transfer of nucleus as a gene targeting approach to achieve important manipulations of genome of species. This has been applied in the production of pharmaceutically active proteins, animal models of human diseases, and even xenotransplantation. It is thus important for medical research and finding cures for diseases. Success of therapeutic cloning would have far more beneficial effects if embryos are perfectly matched, replacement tissues and organs can be made available to patients and even on dying people . This would save lives of resourceful persons and improve the quality of life of more others. Possible importance of cloning may include the use of insulin-secreting cells for diabetes; nerve cells in stroke or Parkinson’s disease; or liver cells to repair a damaged organ. There would probably also be side benefits resulting from the research. Further advances in understanding of how organs regenerate would increase the range of possible treatments that could be considered. In the United States during 1998, â€Å"More than 50 disease advocates and scientific societies, representing such concerns as diabetes, blindness, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, AIDS, Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, stroke, lymphoma, infertility and cancer–as well as professional groups that focus on such issues as cell biology, aging, microbiology, ophthalmology, cardiology, pediatrics and reproductive medicine–recently sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to support federal funding for†¦ [stem cell] research. † 5. As a confirmation to this, the frequent use of Pig hearts as transplants to replace diseased human hearts. Donor pigs with human DNA could provide stronger hearts to patients with cardiac defects. Use of Cloning in agriculture The application of cloning in Agriculture needs no more emphasis Another benefit from modern cloning is in agriculture. Farmers and ranchers can now have their strongest crops and animals twinned so that they are less likely to contract diseases. The use of biologically modified specimen has been used to improve on yields for example in the case of corn and tomatoes, in addition it has been used to in the case of animals to develop resistance to disease. Cloning in animals  Animal research has extensively used animal cloning procedure. If the animals used in experiments are exactly the same physiologically, the experiments are much easier to control (Earn Shaw). Fewer animals will be needed for experimentation, with better results. Though some scientists believe that animals are more susceptible to disease if they are part of herds with genetically identical genes, cells are also capable of being genetically engineered to root out diseases that the donor animal may have carried. Of course this would improve agricultural production because of improved health. Cow’s milk has been improved qualitatively and quantitatively. Genetic cloning can also be utilized in the production of wool to produce wool of high quality. In addition the ability to clone will allow scientists to genetically engineer animals for a particular protein, and then produce them in large quantity. The animals carrying the proteins would secrete the proteins in their milk or blood to be harvested and then purified for use. Animal cloning can also be aimed at biodiversifying endangered animals to avoid their extinction by coming up with more adaptive of the species. Cloning in plants  Genetic cloning in plants has been extensively used in large scale production of food to satisfy current global demands for food to avert the witnessed situations of hunger and starvation. Genetically modified foods have become worthy in this pursuit. Most regions of Sub Saharan Africa where more deaths and casualties from starvation with naturally agriculturally unproductive environments have been made top produce food crops such as maize,beans,potatoes and other food crops. This approach has made such region to gain some level of independence in terms of domestic food production through improvement of food security. In addition cloning in plants can be used to increase the productivity of plants to ensure they are more useful fore man. For example, through cloning, mangoes can be made produce larger fruits and even of desirable tastes. Cloning as a basic academic research Cloning as integral part of biotechnology has achieved and continues to provide basic framework for the understanding of cell development and differentiation and the relevance of DNA in traits development. Hence there are core reasons why cloning might be permitted in the research environment. In the fields such as agriculture, medicine, and other fields using the technology of nuclear transfer, it has provided useful links to the ameliorate dangers into successes. Basic defense mechanisms have been deeply studied through cloning of white blood cells in the cell clone theory procedure in the development of artificial lymphocytes. I t has also provided useful know-how with an aim to provide human’s standards specifically for diseased such as by minimizing donor rejections during organ transplant because of similarities in their DNA structures. Conclusion Cloning is a very important technological advancement whose practicality should only be strengthened for the mere reasons that it improves the quality of life of human beings. I believe like any other developments; proponents of this scientific process must have critics who need to be handled professionally to get us to a compromise if only it is achievable. â€Å"Pro-life supporters generally believe that a human person comes Into existence at conception. Some believe that somatic cell nuclear transfer is sufficiently similar to normal conception with an egg and spermatozoa that a human person also comes into existence during therapeutic cloning. The process of extracting stem cells involves killing the embryo. To many pro-lifers, this is murder. They feel that murdering one person, the embryo, to cure another person of paralysis, or diabetes, or heart disease, etc. can never be justified. A report from the chief medical officer’s expert group reviewing the potential of developments in stem cell research and cell nuclear replacement to benefit human health,† Department of Health (UK), . Such theoretical and spiritual approach towards a scientific concept cannot however withstand the necessity of this technology in the global demands in action to current challenges. It does not emphasize the fact that no two partners come together during this ‘conception’. For example, it is a common knowledge that cloning enables replacement of damaged cells with new ones. Treatment of diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Muscle dystrophy which damage cells is now possible through this technique. In addition through cloning we can create human beings who can be able to comfortably act as organ donors for medical procedures where organ implantation is required. It is also through this procedure that couples that are not able to conceive in a natural way will have an opportunity to have children from their own genes†¦. Isn’t this great? I believe the steps so far achieved towards the development of cloning has had far more benefits in the global arena in very sensitive fields such as medicine ,agriculture, and even on the understanding of cells and body systems