Technology To Clone Humans example essay topic

"I'm against society imposing rules on individuals for how they want to use genetic knowledge. We " re too multi-cultural to say we know how other people should behave. The state should stay out of genetics". According to Nobel Prize winner James Watson, the unraveled of the double helix structure of DNA, restrictions should not be placed upon genetics and the cloning process.

The world is currently divided over the legality and morality of cloning as several prominent scientists, such as James Watson, promote experimentation in the field of genetics whereas others adamantly oppose such research. Today, both proponents and protesters of human cloning have numerous reasons to support their views. In recent months, a group name the Raelians claimed that they had cloned the first human baby despite the lack of biological evidence; in fact, this group claims to have clones 5 babies in recent months. Such an incredible claim could alter science and human evolution if true, but the Raelian Clonaid division, which has only 2 employees officially, has not presented provided any proof. Clonaid's claim has grave moral, ethical, and legal issues since they deal with such delicate issues.

A myriad of ethical, moral, and legal issues arise from the issues involving the cloning of human beings. One issue pertains to religion. Many religious groups have strong convictions against the cloning of human life since they believe that life is sacred and only God has the right to create and destroy. A vast number of Americans believe in the sanctity of human life and that it should not be altered or experimented with. In fact people's opinions of abortion tie in to their beliefs on cloning since both topics deal with the value of human life. People fear that if cloning research continues, it may result in human beings playing God as scientists could alter the genetic makeup of babies and possibly produce the perfect human.

Many religious groups believe that humans are born the way they are for a reason and this should not be altered by cloning. However, moral issues aside, the results of cloning may prove to be beneficial to human existence. Many scientists are currently conducting stem cell research, which is research that could lead to the cure for various ailments and increase the life span of humans. Experiments involving cloning may also lead to such medical breakthroughs.

In addition clones could supply humans with organs needed in transplants, allow psychologists and sociologists to make discoveries about human behavior, and provide medical researchers with human test subjects. However, these uses for cloning border on the concept of what is ethically correct. Even scientific discoveries should have their limitations. If cloning creates new human life, then these clones must be treated as such; thus they should not be experimented with, nor manipulated.

They deserve the exact treatment as other humans. So, the clones may not be scientifically useful afterall if they are to be treated like humans. Another objection to cloning is that the world is projected to be overpopulated in the near future. In this case, clones would drastically add to the number of people there are in the world, which could result in severe overpopulation even faster. Furthermore, some people speculate that clones may be utilized in wars as they may engineered to be super-humans. Wars usually help in reducing the world population, but if the people fighting in these wars are clones, then the world population would not decrease.

Furthermore, with the medical breakthroughs that could be learned through cloning research, the life span of humans could increase and the death rate could decrease, which would contribute to the overpopulation in the world. Some people argue about the legality of restricting cloning since it is the right of the individual to decide whether cloning is appropriate. James Watson stated that the government should not get involved in genetics. He has a valid point since restrictions on genetic research could be construed as a violation of the First Amendment Freedoms and Rights. Today, the government has restricted the amount of stem cell research that occurs in the US and has prohibited cloning. This is a violation of the principles upon which this country was built.

The US has been called the land of the free, but they have restricted cloning research whereas other countries, particularly in Europe, have not restricted cloning. The consequences of Clonaid claiming they have successfully cloned human life are serious. In this instance, Clonaid has offered no scientific information about their breakthrough, which could mean that they are merely staging an elaborate hoax or they are keeping their discovery incredibly secret. Very few people know whether Clonaid has indeed succeeded in cloning human life. Even the Raelian founder, Claude Vorilhon who is also called Rael by his sect, is unaware of the validity of such claims. When discussing Clonaid head Brigitte Boisselier's claim of cloning the first human, he stated, "If it's real, she deserves the Nobel Prize because she is making history and it's the most fantastic scientific advance in history of humanity...

If it's not true, she's also making history with one of the biggest hoaxes in history, so in both ways it's wonderful. Because, thanks to what she is doing now, the whole world knows about the Raelian movement. I am very happy with that". If Clonaid's claim is a hoax, then it will have been a profitable one for the Raelians; since the announcement of human cloning, there has been a 10 percent increase in the dues-paying membership of the Raelian sect since they have received so much publicity.

In addition, numerous individuals have invested up to $200,000 in providing prospective cloning patients. There is a chance that these individuals may receive their money's worth in addition to a human duplicate, but many scientists and professionals believe that Clonaid's claim is a lie and that these individuals are being cheated of their investments. There are severe legal consequences if Clonaid is lying to these individuals; the company may be sued for millions of dollars if they have been presenting their customers with false hopes and dreams. Moreover, the moral and ethical results are even stricter. Clonaid would be heavily criticized and publicly denounced for making a false claim, especially a claim that could change the history of man. The Raelian sect would most likely witness their membership dwindle.

The statement that Rael made pertaining to Boisselier indicates that he doesn't mind if Clonaid's claim is an intricate deception. He is more concerned with the current success of the Raelian movement and the fact that Boisslier's claim has promoted the Raelian movement. Such an attitude is one that should be denounced since it indicates that he doesn't care whether the world is being lied to; the world has the right to know whether such breakthroughs are indeed valid. Personally, I am ambivalent on the topic of cloning. I believe it has useful purposes that could be beneficial for humanity.

However, I also believe that we should not be creating human life since it would make us more God-like in our power to create. Also, in pursuit of creating clones, we will probably develop many abnormal humans that may be donned as "human mistakes". I am completely against the way Clonaid has established a claim which they have not supported yet. If the company is presenting a lie, I feel serious legal and moral action should be taken against this company.

In the future, I believe that one day we will have the technology to clone humans; however the real question is: Will we? Our morality may in fact prevent us from taking this scientific quantum leap, but only time can tell.