Reproductive Cloning
Reproductive cloning is making an exact copy of an organism
that already exists or has existed in the past. In 1997 researchers cloned an
adult sheep, Dolly. Dolly was genetically identical to the adult she was cloned
from. Reproductive cloning in animals is accomplished by a process called
somatic cell nuclear transfer. In somatic cell nuclear transfer genetic
material from the nucleus of a donor adult cell is transferred to an egg whose nucleus with
its genetic material has been removed. The resulting egg containing the donors
DNA must be treated with chemicals or electric current to stimulate cell
division. Once the cloned egg reaches a suitable stage it is transferred to the
uterus of a female host where it will continue to develop until birth.
So why clone? Our Biology book openly states that besides
the novelty of actually cloning a human for the first time, this concept is
likely to be of little practical value in the near future. (Johnson, 405) I
think it is important to note that while human cloning seems to carry the most
controversy, scientists have been cloning animals for years already. When doing my internet research I came across
some other reasons people give for justifying cloning. Some of the reasons are
medical purposes, reviving endangered or extinct animals species, helping
infertile couples have children, and cloning stem cells for research.
When we hear about cloning, we often only hear about the
successful cases, Dolly being a bright example of this. Two big issues with cloning are the
high failure rate of the procedure and problems during later development. In
the case of the famous Dolly she died at age 6 from progressive lung disease
and had also contracted arthritis prematurely. The type of lung disease Dolly
had is more common in older sheep. Some clones have developed other issues such
as kidney and brain malformations and impaired immune systems.
So the debate ensues, to clone or not to clone? Scientists
and researchers and others support cloning because of the wide variety of issues
that cloning could help. Some are
against cloning because of the really large amount of unknown variables and the
ethical issues. Cloning seems like it could have some very productive places in
society but I think we need to make sure we know exactly what we are doing and
the implications that it carries. It feels like in the process of learning how
to clone we lose sight of some of the moral and ethical issues that arise when
not thinking through all the involved aspects of cloning. I do support progress
in treating illness and disease. Having suffered from infertility I can even
see how cloning may be appealing to some but I cannot say I would have
considered this route while we were trying to add to our family. I do
not support cloning simply for the novelty of it.
Sources
Therapeutic Cloning vs. Reproductive Cloning
Accessed March 3, 2013.
Why Clone.
The University of Utah.
Accessed March 4, 2013.
Cloning Risks.
Accessed March 4, 2013
Dolly the Sheep dies young.
Will Knight.
Accessed March 4, 2013
Human Biology. Sixth Edition. Michael D. Johnson
Yay! What a beautiful paper. Articulate and informative. Thank you!
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