Cloning. Throughout the centuries, this word and the concepts behind it have stunned, puzzled and confused scientists and people around the world. People have stood by it, ridiculed it, scoffed at the very idea. There have been books and movies about it, mostly scary horror films, designed to stop the world from engaging in such potentially risky behavior. The idea is simple: an exact genetic replica of an organism, using the relatively low-tech method of nuclear transfer. Many advances have been made in cloning, up to the point that an actual sheep was cloned a few years ago. Some people believe it is high time for a human clone. They say it might solve all of our current problems. Should we continue with this extraordinary yet slightly formidable scientific method? Maybe.
While there are obvious benefits to human cloning, there are also some more discreet cons to this pursuit. First of all, organ transplants are becoming more common. Our high technology today allows us to transplant organs much easily, but there are definite risks to such surgery. No one has the exact same DNA as you (unless you are lucky and have an identical twin), so no one's organ would work exactly right inside your body. Even if you have a sibling's organ, that organ is only expected to last 10 to 20 years after your surgery, and you must take various anti-rejection medicines to stop your body's natural rejection process. Your body is designed for your organs, no one else's. A clone would be the perfect solution for such a problem, especially if you have no siblings at all (because if you have a non-related donor, the risk is even higher of rejection.) A clone would have the exact same DNA as you, so it would be similar to simply taking out your diseased organ and replacing it again with a healthy copy- and an exact copy at that. Since one person on the organ waiting list dies every 90 minutes, this is a serious cause, one that needs attention. And clones might just be the answer.
But think. Imagine you were a clone of a person desperately waiting for an organ. Your only purpose in life is to give an organ to this person who paid thousands of dollars (and, at this point in our laws, illegally) to have you “made”. Not to mention you would probably have to die to give them their organ- out of all the organs transplanted, only kidneys can be taken from live donors- you still need your heart, liver, and both your lungs, but you only need one kidney to live. Either you would die, or you would get a simple transplant- one that the person you were cloned off of avoided. The ones with risks (especially through non-related donors), and anti-rejection medications for the rest of your life. And the person you were cloned off of would live a seemingly perfect life, the one you were cheated out of because of science and, well, money. It could cause rifts in our society, widening the gap between poor and rich, possibly causing wars resulting from anger at the rich people, the ones with clones, the ones able to afford the $1 million it costs. Cloning would not only weaken our government, but it would also weaken the stability of the people as a whole. Individuality would no longer be a value. No longer would being unique be viewed as important, and some people, aided by science, could even start to “purify” our community, making everyone fit the same mold, “cleansing” the world of races they did not think were worthy enough of living. Racism and hatred could sweep the planet, wiping out thousands of people.
Yet there are other pros and cons, too, ones that are less obvious. For instance, people grieving for loved ones that have passed away could possibly see their dead family and friends again. Some people are so depressed as they grieve they would go to any measures to see their friends again. Some people would be willing to pay the millions of dollars and illegally make a clone of their lost one. But what they do not realize at the beginning could shock them later. A clone of your dead 85-year old grandmother wouldn't automatically appear 85. All clones, just like us, start out as babies, so your grandmother (or whoever you have lost) would be considerably younger than you, a simple baby. They wouldn't suddenly give you that great advice and bake you cookies, they'd be a baby. And while scientists can clone brains, they can't clone minds. That baby's experiences and memories as they grew up would most likely turn the clone into someone much, much different than your grandmother. And there is a slight flaw in the system of cloning: that baby's DNA, although it is just born, thinks that it's really that 85-year old woman. The baby would only have a life expectancy of a few years- so it's basically murder, knowing that this “baby” is really 85 and it's going to die soon anyway. Not to mention there are moral concerns when talking about raising the dead. Almost every religion is firmly against bringing back the dead.
There are benefits, there are the things that make everyone hesitant. Human cloning is an extremely controversial matter, one that will probably be discussed, examined, and the details picked through over and over again. Someone will probably try it illegally in the next few years (something not to be advised: in the EU, human cloning is sentenced with a minimum of 30 years in prison and a fine of £7.5 million- just over $10 million dollars U.S. money.) The government will struggle with the idea, unable to imagine such a thing happening, hovering between bans and unsuccessful sentences. But eventually, the choice will be up to the general public. There are definite pros, definite cons, things that might happen we'll just have to leave to chance. So what do you think? Should cloning be left for research only? Should it be banned completely? Open for anyone to try? Whatever we choose, it'll change our lives forever, so choose wisely.
While there are obvious benefits to human cloning, there are also some more discreet cons to this pursuit. First of all, organ transplants are becoming more common. Our high technology today allows us to transplant organs much easily, but there are definite risks to such surgery. No one has the exact same DNA as you (unless you are lucky and have an identical twin), so no one's organ would work exactly right inside your body. Even if you have a sibling's organ, that organ is only expected to last 10 to 20 years after your surgery, and you must take various anti-rejection medicines to stop your body's natural rejection process. Your body is designed for your organs, no one else's. A clone would be the perfect solution for such a problem, especially if you have no siblings at all (because if you have a non-related donor, the risk is even higher of rejection.) A clone would have the exact same DNA as you, so it would be similar to simply taking out your diseased organ and replacing it again with a healthy copy- and an exact copy at that. Since one person on the organ waiting list dies every 90 minutes, this is a serious cause, one that needs attention. And clones might just be the answer.
But think. Imagine you were a clone of a person desperately waiting for an organ. Your only purpose in life is to give an organ to this person who paid thousands of dollars (and, at this point in our laws, illegally) to have you “made”. Not to mention you would probably have to die to give them their organ- out of all the organs transplanted, only kidneys can be taken from live donors- you still need your heart, liver, and both your lungs, but you only need one kidney to live. Either you would die, or you would get a simple transplant- one that the person you were cloned off of avoided. The ones with risks (especially through non-related donors), and anti-rejection medications for the rest of your life. And the person you were cloned off of would live a seemingly perfect life, the one you were cheated out of because of science and, well, money. It could cause rifts in our society, widening the gap between poor and rich, possibly causing wars resulting from anger at the rich people, the ones with clones, the ones able to afford the $1 million it costs. Cloning would not only weaken our government, but it would also weaken the stability of the people as a whole. Individuality would no longer be a value. No longer would being unique be viewed as important, and some people, aided by science, could even start to “purify” our community, making everyone fit the same mold, “cleansing” the world of races they did not think were worthy enough of living. Racism and hatred could sweep the planet, wiping out thousands of people.
Yet there are other pros and cons, too, ones that are less obvious. For instance, people grieving for loved ones that have passed away could possibly see their dead family and friends again. Some people are so depressed as they grieve they would go to any measures to see their friends again. Some people would be willing to pay the millions of dollars and illegally make a clone of their lost one. But what they do not realize at the beginning could shock them later. A clone of your dead 85-year old grandmother wouldn't automatically appear 85. All clones, just like us, start out as babies, so your grandmother (or whoever you have lost) would be considerably younger than you, a simple baby. They wouldn't suddenly give you that great advice and bake you cookies, they'd be a baby. And while scientists can clone brains, they can't clone minds. That baby's experiences and memories as they grew up would most likely turn the clone into someone much, much different than your grandmother. And there is a slight flaw in the system of cloning: that baby's DNA, although it is just born, thinks that it's really that 85-year old woman. The baby would only have a life expectancy of a few years- so it's basically murder, knowing that this “baby” is really 85 and it's going to die soon anyway. Not to mention there are moral concerns when talking about raising the dead. Almost every religion is firmly against bringing back the dead.
There are benefits, there are the things that make everyone hesitant. Human cloning is an extremely controversial matter, one that will probably be discussed, examined, and the details picked through over and over again. Someone will probably try it illegally in the next few years (something not to be advised: in the EU, human cloning is sentenced with a minimum of 30 years in prison and a fine of £7.5 million- just over $10 million dollars U.S. money.) The government will struggle with the idea, unable to imagine such a thing happening, hovering between bans and unsuccessful sentences. But eventually, the choice will be up to the general public. There are definite pros, definite cons, things that might happen we'll just have to leave to chance. So what do you think? Should cloning be left for research only? Should it be banned completely? Open for anyone to try? Whatever we choose, it'll change our lives forever, so choose wisely.
NelleSophie
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