Human Cloning
The human race would be better off in the long run if the best of us were copied…???
Introduction
The ethics of human cloning has become a great issue in the past few years. The advocates for both sides of the issue have many reasons to clone or not to clone. Cloning will first be defined. Followed by that, a discussion of the opinions that support cloning will be presented and then the same against cloning. And finally, the stakes of the ethical problem of human cloning will be stated.
I) What is cloning?
1) Defining human cloning
To use a specific definition, the American Medical Association (AMA) defined cloning as “the production of genetically identical organisms via somatic cell nuclear transfer. In other words, cloning is the method of produce a baby that has the same genes as its parent. One must understand that cloning does not produce an exact copy of the person being cloned. What cloning does, is that it copies the DNA/genes of the person and creates a duplicate genetically.
2) How It All Started
In February 1997, when embryologist Ian Wilmut and his colleagues at Roslin Institute in Scotland were able to clone a lamb, named Dolly, the world was introduced to a new possibility and will never be the same again (Nash). Before this, cloning was thought to be impossible, but now there is living proof that the technology and knowledge to clone animals exist.
3) The questions it arose
Questions began to arise within governments and scientific organizations and they began to respond. Are humans next? Is it possible to use this procedure to clone humans also? Would anyone actually try? What can we learn if we clone humans? How will this affect the world? These are only a few of the questions that have surfaced and need answered. A whole new concept in ethics was created when the birth of Dolly was announced.
II) The benefits and disadvantages of human cloning
1) Potential medical benefits...