Human cloning… a scientific concept, a great opportunity, and a source of immense controversy. No one can argue the potential benefits of cloning, but the ethical repercussions, therein lies the longtime debate of whether the potential benefits outweigh the potential consequences. But right there is a key theme in the play as well as in life, “potential” until something has been done the results cannot be studied.
Science will inherently inspire controversy as it seeks to push the boundaries of human thought and abilities. There was controversy over the invention off the telescope because it proved we weren’t the centre of the universe. Many of today’s commonly accepted technologies were once frowned upon and ostracized for challenging the moral establishment. And some of the greatest achievements in human history were created in spite of great loss.
In the play ‘A Number’ the character Salter sought to clone his son who was no longer with him and he did but complications arose when he found out 35 years later that more clones of his son were made without his knowledge. This is a perfect metaphor for how as technology advances and moves forward we must adapt our laws and social customs to fit these new abilities into our lives.
The scientific process of producing a clone involves many complex scientific procedures that can be summarized by the graphic above. Human cloning is in debate for many countries. Over 30 countries have outlawed cloning for reproductive reasons. There are many arguments to the ethics of having a clone for a child. The clone would always know that they were a copy. Also they may be treated differently because they are a clone. This theory is very realistic as many children born through IVF and other fertilization techniques have been mistreated in childhood because of the way they were conceived.
The level of controversy surrounding human cloning is to be expected as there was quite a lot of backlash after first clone was created. Dolly the sheep was the first animal to be cloned successfully and is very hotly debated as to whether it was ethical or not. Dolly was born in 1996 but the research responsible has been in development for many years. When the news coverage put Dolly on display for the whole world to see there were many people who saw her as a symbol of how far science has advanced. However a lot of people saw her as an abomination. It was not only civilians who took issue, many high profile groups such the Catholic Church. This is to be expected as they have very strict moral beliefs regarding reproduction. One of the arguments they maintain is that when someone is cloned they will be held to the standards of the ‘original’ person and thus be subject to a life of expectations set based on essentially another person’s life.
The potential benefits of cloning are too alluring to scientists and curious people to let a hypothetical future stop research. Many governments and private institutions conduct extensive research into how to clone and how it can be used to help humanity. In California the people voted to invest $3 Billion dollars into stem cell research. Which itself is also a very controversial topic of scientific research due to the in question standing of a fetu/embryo as a human being or legal person. This goes to show that often people’s views on topics change over time.
Many of the fears people have of cloning are similar to the plot of science fiction films were clones are harvested for organs or that they will be treated like second class citizens for being a clone. But with the level of reform and inclusivity stemming from women’s rights movements and organizations like Black Lives Matter humanity has proven that we want to be decent to each other and that we are willing to go to great lengths to stand up for each other.
The most important part of this debate for me is the potential benefits to cloning research. Technologies like In vitro fertilization used to be in question but now are a completely accepted means of procreation. Cloning is a means to improve life for humans everywhere and that is something that cannot be ignored.
Works cited
Venngage. (n.d.). [Cloning infographic]. Retrieved June 8, 2018, from https://infograph.venngage.com/p/83778/behold_new
Correa, J. (n.d.). Reflections on cloning. Retrieved June 8, 2018, from http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_30091997_clon_en.html#ETHICAL PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH HUMAN CLONING
The Clone Wars [Clone meme]. (2013, December 23). Retrieved June 8, 2018, from http://www.meredithtowbin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/clones.jpg
Wade, N. (2013, October 14). The Clone Named Dolly. Retrieved June 8, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/booming/the-clone-named-dolly.html
Isasi, R. M.; Knoppers, B. M. (2006). Mind the gap: Policy approaches to embryonic stem cell and cloning research in 50 countries. European Journal of Health Law 13(1), 9-26.
The economist. (2002, May 11). The great cloning debate. Retrieved June 8, 2018, from https://www.economist.com/node/1125284