Is Cloning of Humans Just?
Uploaded by prachan20 on Mar 04, 2001
Recently there was a major breakthrough in the scientific research – the mapping of all DNA in a human gene is complete. Couple of years ago, this seems an impossible task for scientist to triumph over. All this revolution in science leads us to believe that the day, when the human being will be cloned, is not far away. Human cloning has always been an issue of controversy, be it in terms of ethically or religiously.
Taking a look at why cloning might be beneficial, among many cases, it is arguable that parents who are known to be at risk of passing a genetic defect to a child could make use of cloning. A fertilized ovum could be cloned, and the duplicate tested for the disease or disorder. If the clone was free of genetic defects, then the other clone would be as well. The latter could be implanted in the woman and allowed to mature to term. Moreover, cloning would enable infertile couples to have children of their own rather than using sperm of another man.
Cloning humans would also mean that organs could be cloned, so it would be a source of perfect transplant organs. This, surely would be immensely beneficial to millions of unfortunate people around the world that are expected to lose their lives due to failure of single (or more) organ(s). It is also arguable that a ban on cloning may be unconstitutional and would deprive people of the right to reproduce and restrict the freedom of scientists.
Arguments against cloning are also on a perfectly viable side. Primarily, I believe that cloning would intervene with the normal ‘cycle’ of life. There would be large number of identical genes, which minimizes the chances of mutation, and, in turn, evolution – the fundamental reason how living things naturally adapt to the ever-changing environment. Life processes failing to do so might result in untimely extinction. Furthermore, cloning would eliminate the uniqueness that each one of us posses. Thus, leading to creation of genetically engineered groups of people for specific purposes and, chances are, that those individuals would be regarded as ‘objects’ rather than people in the society in grand scale.
Scientist haven’t 100 per cent guarantee that the first cloned humans will be normal. Thus, this could result in introduction of additional defects in the human ‘gene-pool’.
Regarding such controversial issues in ‘black or while’ approach seems...