Should Human Cloning Be Legal?
Marcia Loyd
PHI 103 Informal Logic
Professor Mosser
February 7, 2011
Ashford University
Cloning is a hot topic in today’s society. What exactly is cloning? “Cloning is the creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another.” (Cloning Fact Sheet, n.d.) There have been many arguments presented in regards to the cloning debate. Some people agree with it while the vast majority does not. While there may be many benefits to human cloning, the cons far outweigh the pros.
Part 1: Thesis
One of the biggest issues with human cloning is that it is not safe. Many mammals have been successfully cloned. However, research has shown that 95% of clone experiments with mammals have led to miscarriage, stillbirth, or disfiguring birth defects. One must ask that if human cloning is legalized what effect it may have on the yet to be born clone or the women who are carrying them. (Cloning Arguments, 2006) The first mammal clone known to be born was a sheep by the name of Dolly. Before Dolly was successfully cloned, scientists had made 276 attempts. When finally born Dolly seemed to carry all the features of a normal newborn sheep. However, scientists have admitted that problems could later surface even though they are not visible now. Some problems other cloned mammals have faced include developmental delays, lung problems, heart defects, neurological disorders and malfunctioning immune systems. (Human Cloning, 2011) One must ask what is the price we are willing to pay for the advancement of science technology? While the cloning technique is perfected, how many lives will be destroyed in the process one way or another?
There are also many emotional risks that would come into play when you are discussing the cloning of human beings. First off, cloning could bring new life to the Ray Stephens song I am my own grandpa. How confusing would it be for a child that has been cloned to identify their relations with his or her family? “A child grows up knowing her mother is her sister, her grandmother is her mother. Her father is her brother-in-law. Every time her mother looks at her, she is seeing herself growing up.” (Reasons Against Cloning, n.d.) If a man’s wife has herself cloned what affect would that have on a marriage? The article Reasons Against Cloning points out that a sexual relationship is highly probable to develop. Of course technically this would not be considered incest because it is not biologically his daughter but rather his wife’s twin. (Reasons Against Cloning, n.d.) One final reason that cloning should be illegal is because of the quality of life that clone may face. If you are realistic a human clone would not be the same as you and I. They would not be allowed to lead a “normal” life. Have you ever been your local carnival and seen people come from miles around to see the world’s shortest person, the world’s tallest person, or any other person that holds a “uniqueness” about them? These people are thrown into what is known as “freak” shows. It goes without saying that the world’s first human clone will obviously endure the same treatment. They will not be allowed to live a normal, happy life. They will be put on display for people far away to come marvel at them in pure wonderment. This person will undergo endless physical and psychological testing. (Logston, 1999) This could lead to a lifetime of mental problems. Can you imagine growing up in a virtual bubble where you are unable to get out and lead a normal life because everyone knows who you are? Not only do they know who you are but there is much talk about what you. You are not a natural born creation. You are a product of Science that began in a lab. Imagine trying to deal with all of those issues on top of the normal life challenges that come along with the teenage years and adolescence. To put a person through this would be unethical. They would be a living, breathing human being and should have all the rights that are entitled to them as a human being but we all know this would not be the case. The clone would more than likely be considered property of medical science. Slavery was ended years ago.
Part 2: Anti-Thesis
People that would like cloning legalized cite many reasons for their strong beliefs in the medical science of cloning. One such reason is that it has the ability to save lives. Many parents across the US have a child that is battling cancer. One of the treatments for childhood cancer is to take the bone marrow of a brother or sister to replace the bone marrow in the ill child. However, except for in the case of identical twins, matching bone marrow is very rare. Even in siblings. However, if the ill child could be cloned then the bone marrow of the clone that is born would definitely match that of their ill sibling. (Elrod, n.d.)
Scientists have also pointed out that in the cases where a parent has lost a child they will be allowed in essence to “recreate” their child and resume daily life as if they had never lost them. It is true that many parents stricken by grief would be very likely to choose this option if given the chance to in essence bring their dead child back to life. (Cloning Debates, n.d.)
The article Cloning Debates also offers up another reasonable reason that cloning should be legalized. HIV is a crippling illness that has stricken millions of people worldwide. The article states,” Let’s pretend it’s the year 2025, and you’ve just been diagnosed with the HIV virus. No problem. Doctors can simply take out a white blood cell from your body, produce hundreds more exactly like it, and get rid your of HIV.” (Cloning Debates, n.d.) A cure for HIV, that some have thought may never have a cure, seems mind staggering. However, the medical advancements cloning could allow does not stop there.
Scientists have pointed out that rather than cloning actual humans it is possible to clone human body part and organs. If you need a heart, lung, kidneys, liver, or whatever the case may be cloning could hold the answer to no more long waits on a transplant list. Not only will you be guaranteed a transplant when you need one, it will be an exact genetic match which will bring an end to anti-rejection medications. (Reasons For and Against Human Cloning, n.d.) If you are standing in awe at the possibilities that cloning could bring in medical science advancement there is even more benefits it could entail.
Scientists have pointed out that it is a highly probably that cloning advancements could lead to the first ever full body transplant. What does that mean one may ask? Imagine you have grown old and your body just does not work the way it used to. A replica body is cloned. This clone will be intentionally left without a human brain. Your brain is transplanted into the new human body where you can have a brand new body. This gives a whole new meaning to feeling young again. (Reasons For and Against Human Cloning, n.d.)
Finally, those who are for the advancement of human cloning point out that it could be key to helping infertile couples. Not only that, cloning could bring “designer” babies to a whole new dimension. You will live in a world where a parent can choose what trait their baby to have. You may choose that you want your baby to be cloned from Michael Jordan because you want them to be athletic. You may want your baby to be cloned from Michael Jackson because you want him to possess musical and dancing talents. Many may choose Albert Einstein because they want their child to be extremely smart. Medical has undoubtedly pointed out that the possibilities could be endless when it comes to cloning advancements. It will become a world where having a child is much like ordering a product from a catalog. Everything can be done to your exact preferred specifications. For many parents this would be a great option available to them. Many parents may simply want to choose a girl or a boy. Imagine that family that has 8 children, all boys, but yet wants to try just one more time for that baby girl.
Part 3-Synthesis
While the advancements cloning could allow seems very appealing there are many complications that could arise from the above stated situations.
First, they argue that cloning could be an answer for helping to put an end to childhood cancer. By cloning an exact replica of the affected child they could have an exact bone marrow match. However, the problem with this is that many types of cancer are genetic. In the article Is Cancer Genetic the author points out that heredity does play a role in the development of some cancers. (Is Cancer Genetic, n.d.) So if this is the case you are running a high risk that the child born of cloning will also carry the risk for this disease. To put another child through that is not worth the potential advantages it may possess.
Next, to suggest that a parent could in essence “replace” a child is absurd. Yes, the new child in question may look like their deceased child but it is not their child. Even identical twins have their own traits that make them unique from one another. It is much easier to let parents go through the natural grieving process then to let them think that their dead child has been made alive again by the miracles of modern day science. The effects on the parent and the cloned child would be damaging. Can you imagine being the cloned child? ” What kind of pressures will he or she feel, knowing they were made as a direct replacement for another?” (Reasons Against Cloning, 2007)
Finally, there is the promises that have been made that science will have the ability to clone white bloods, body parts, body organs, all the way to full body transplants. This seems great doesn’t it? It would appear that with the advancement of cloning the human race may be able to defeat death all together. Many have said that cloning is scientists playing God. However, that cannot be used as a fair argument because many people in the world are not religious. However, let us look at the practical complications cloning could cause. If cloning is successful and begins to defeat major illnesses people will be significantly healthier. With the possibility of full body transplants that have been proposed the human race would in essence become immortal. This would cause all kinds of complications. Life and death is a natural process for a reason. The earth has limited natural resources to help its inhabitants survive. With these limited resources and the sure overpopulation that cloning would cause, we would not have enough resources to go around the world for all living creatures to survive. (Human Cloning Should Be Banned, n.d.)
After carefully examining both sides of the human cloning debate this author has decided to keep her stance that the science of human cloning should be banned. While there may be many benefits human cloning can offer, it has been proven that the risks far outweigh the benefits.
References:
Cloning Arguments (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01881/debates.htm
Cloning Debates (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01881/debates.htm
Cloning Fact Sheet (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml#whatis
Elrod, A. Why Cloning Should Be Legalized. (n.d.)Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://www.humancloning.org/essays/alexa2.htm
Human Cloning (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://www.cogforlife.org/cloning.htm
Human Cloning Should Be Banned (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://wjhs8c.pbworks.com/f/9_Laura_Cloning.pdf
Is Cancer Genetic? (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://cpmc.coriell.org/Sections/Education/CancerRisk.aspx?PgId=63
Logston, A. The Ethics Of Human Cloning (January 13,1999) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://facweb.stvincent.edu/academics/religiousstu/writings/logston1.html
Reasons Against Cloning (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01881/debates.htm
Reasons For and Against Human Cloning (n.d.) Retrieved February 7th, 2011 from http://www.philforhumanity.com/Human_Cloning.html
