Clone Her Own Organ example essay topic

Cloning is the creation of an exact copy of a living organism from a single cell, using an asexual reproduction where the organism inherits the genetic al characteristics from the parent who donated the cell. For years, scientists believed human cloning would never be possible but due to the success of cloning animals and more recently human beings, yesterday's science fiction is now today's reality. The development of cloning technology can bring numerous advantages and provide endless opportunities. However, this is a subject that raises many ethical questions. After all, if God had meant fro man to fly, he would have given us wings so wouldn't he have given us spores if we were meant to clone?

The question of whether cloning technology should be developed is based on many factors and is an ongoing debate that will continue for many years to come. Cloning technology is expected to result in several miraculous medical breakthroughs and people should be open to the endless opportunities and benefits it may produce. The need for organs is undeniable and cloning technology may be able to save thousands of lives. Embryonic stem cells can be grown to produce organs or tissues in order to replace or repair damaged ones. Skin for burn victims, brain cells for the brain damaged, as well as spinal cord cells, lungs, hearts and kidneys are now possible to produce for people who have suffered accidental medical tragedies during their lifetimes.

In addition to this, scientists are also now attempting to create transgenic pigs, which have human genes. Their hearts, livers or kidneys may be useable as organ transplants in humans. Once this can be achieved, providing cloning technology is available, transgenic animals could be cloned to produce as many organs as are needed and people will no longer have to die waiting for human organs to be available to them. As it is today, 80,000 people in the United States alone are on the waiting list for transplants for organs. The failure of organs is a spectrum of disorders and people should want a spectrum of solutions available to them. Heart, liver and kidney failure as well as diseases such as diabetes, leukemia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and Down's syndrome may be made curable if human cloning technology is continued and developed further.

There may even be a cure for cancer once one has a better understanding of cell differentiation through cloning technology. Andrea Gordon of the United States, who at the age of 28 faced kidney failure, has already had a transplant, which proved unsuccessful after 2 years and 8 months. She now undergoes dialysis 5 times a day, 7 times a week in order to survive. In order for her to live to the age of 40, she must receive another kidney transplant.

If she does not receive it in time, the only option she may have is to clone her own organ, which her body will not reject. Human cloning would also provide an opportunity for infertile couples to reproduce. Many couples prefer to have a child that is genetically compatible to them, rather than choosing to adopt or go through infertility treatments, which can be emotionally as well as physically painful for the couple. With the process of cloning, the couple will no longer have to be reminded of their inability to have a child, but rather be blessed with one that has their features.

With the development of cloning technology, the extinction of animals may also be prevented. In 1999, the Da minami, belonging to the ox family was successfully cloned. Due to its success, many other animals such as the Giant panda, the Black Rhino, elephants and monkeys, whose numbers have been reduced to less than 1000 in the world today, may be saved from the verge of extinction. Although there are countless advantages and opportunities once cloning technology reaches our doorsteps, other factors need to be taken into account before a decision is made. First of all, there is always the possibility of injuring or killing embryos.

Religious leaders and pro-life supporters refer to therapeutic cloning as "living off the dead" as it involves the destruction of the embryo in order to get the embryonic stem cells. Pastor Russell E. Saltzman for instance, is diabetic and can be cured through cloning, yet he is against using it to cure himself. One must ask himself whether an embryonic cell can be regarded as a life or if it is as important as the life of a child. Some say it contains no nerve cells so it therefore cannot experience pain and it does not have the potential to develop into a human unless it is implanted into a uterus. However, many believe an embryo is a human person and will be subjected to assault and even murder, as it would be treated as a commodity to be exploited and not as a person. The cult-linked company Clonaid, which claims to have cloned the world's first baby, has been widely crit ized and has drawn global attention for now c laming to have a second cloned child.

Lawyer Bernard Sieg al has filed a petition, which alleged that the child might be at the risk of having permanent genetic defects, imperfections and mutations since Clonaid may have exploited it. Cloning scientists have even consistently stated that attempting to clone a baby is irresponsible, given the high rates of deaths and defects seen in the seven mammalian species so far. Secondly, cloning is a recent development and there has not been enough research done and information available about it. It therefore cannot be predicted how a clone is going to grow and develop and whether it will live a healthy life. If it is used for repairing organs, will there be limits put in place? Who will determines when one is to die?

The human being is also amazing and different in its own way. The power to think, love and operate in a society like no other is the best thing known to us in this world and yet we are developing a technology that will allow someone else to possibly think, act of even look just like oneself. We must ask ourselves this question; do we trust all the other people in this world to be able to clone? Apart from this, it will be very expensive to fund cloning.

It must be decided whether it should be funded privately or by the government, which will also be able to place limits. There are so many other problems on Earth that we should be worried about such as world hunger, peace and the growing worldwide spread of Aids. Additionally, the psychological effects on the identity of the clone should also be considered. It is not right to create a human being with no parents, no sense of belonging and no sense of who he or she is, regardless one's religion or belief. It is simply immoral and ethically wrong. Is it also a good idea to want the human race to go towards a set standard?

For example, if there were many cloned David Beckham's, he will not be unique or will no longer be known for being the best football player. People will no longer have to work towards a specific goal or target once they know who has the potential to be the best in something and who does not. Furthermore, creating a population that is entirely the same means that the population is susceptible to the same disease such as Mad cow disease from food shortages. This is because there will not be any genetic variation. Once a disease gets through the immune system, it would be able to attack everyone else's as well. The development of cloning will be able to benefit childless couples, the sick, medical research and even those who want to be reunited with deceased loved ones.

The possibilities of the advancement in all fields of science as well as life are endless. However, before society should open to cloning and its technology, many factors need to be considered before it is developed based on the advantages versus its consequences to society as a whole.