Clone example essay topic

1,034 words
Human cloning has many implications. "Cloning refers to copying genes and other pieces of chromosomes to generate enough identical material for further study". Many people opposed to cloning argue that it is risky. In this respect, cloning is no different from any other new medical technology. "Research is required in order to quantify and reduce the risk of the procedures involved with any new medical treatments. Doctors have been tinkering with the human body for a long time.

They insert pacemakers and artificial joints and heart valves and whole artificial hearts. They do cochlear implants and test-tube babies and they do organ transplants". All of these procedures were "risky" when they were first begun. But thankfully, researchers continued their work and have saved many lives. Another argument is that cloning is playing God. This argument assumes that we know God's intentions.

"There is no exact biblical statement on the ethics of human cloning. Who is to say that it is not God's will that we clone ourselves? It is possible that God intended for medical researchers to use the knowledge he endowed on them for the purpose of healing and improving the lives of many people. Moreover, every time that a doctor performs life-saving surgery or administers drugs he is changing the destiny of the patient and could be thus be seen as assuming the role of God.

We should be very wary of banning something without being able to say why it is wrong. This type of thinking is where all sorts of irrational superstitions and extremism originate". Proponents of the family argue that reproductive cloning harms the integrity of the family. They argue that single people will be able to produce offspring without even the physical presence of a partner, more specifically without the father.

"Society should not pretend that every child conceived by sexual procreation is born to wholly well-intentioned parents. The desire to have 'a son and heir' is common around the world but does not concern the welfare of the future child. Similarly, children are often conceived out of marital custom, in order to consolidate a relationship, or even in order to gain free accommodations from local housing authorities. Finally, many children are not intended at all, but are born as a result of unplanned pregnancies. There would be no fear of "accidental cloning" that could bring a child to a parent who was unprepared, or unwilling, to love it".

Many argue that cloning will lead to eugenics, or the artificial manipulation and control of the characteristics of people. "There is much more danger of eugenics associated with developments in gene therapy and genetic testing and screening, rather than human cloning. The notion of clones of Hitler is frankly ridiculous. Psychologists have shown that nurture is as important as genes in determining someone's personality.

It would be impossible to produce another Hitler, or Elvis, or whomever through cloning. Clones would by no means be identical in every respect". Even identical twins have different personalities, preferences, and skills. This shows how people with identical genes can be unique.

"The idea of breeding a "super army" is also ridiculous. Thousands of willing mothers, the nine month gestation process, and the many years raising this child to adulthood would be necessary". This doesn't even seem like a reasonable technique for any dictator, even Saddam Hussein, to raise an army. Pro-life groups are very outspoken against cloning. At the center of this argue is deciding where life begins. I, like Senator Orrin Hatch, believe that "life does not begin in the Petri dish, but rather in a mother's nurturing womb" A critical feature of being pro-life is helping the living, and scientists say that research involving cloning could lead to cures for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, paralysis and other problems.

California democratic senator Dianne Feinstein has said that banning human cloning research "would be a great setback for millions of patients with catastrophic medical conditions. The medical research surrounding cloning offers these patients the possibility of a cure. They are the ones whose hopes would be dashed if cloning research were not allowed to continue" Those who are argue for human cloning have some valid arguments. Human cloning technology could be used to reverse heart attacks. With cloning, infertile couples could have children. The average person carries 8 defective genes inside them.

These defective genes allow people to become sick when they would otherwise remain healthy. With human cloning and its technology it may be possible to ensure that we no longer suffer because of our defective genes. We may be able to clone livers for liver transplants. We may learn how to switch cells on and off through cloning and thus be able to cure cancer. We may learn to grow nerves or the spinal cord back again when they are injured.

Quadriplegics might be able to get out of their wheelchairs and walk again. Christopher Reeves, the man who played Superman, might be able to walk again Everyone appreciates the value of healing and offering remedies for disease. The Bible talks about valuing life, but the Good Samaritan tries to go out of his way to alleviate suffering. I grew up in a home with a disabled sister. I know first-hand how a disability changes the lives of everyone it touches. I also know that if there was some way to change this for my sister I would.

I would like to see research continue to prevent others from suffering. How would you determine what values are most important? Is it wrong to want something better for a family member or for any other human being? Until you have a family member who has been affected by something that may be cured in the future by human cloning research, you cannot say without a doubt what should be done concerning human cloning.