To Clone or Not to Clone

To Clone or not to Clone

Since March 1997, the birth of a cloned sheep named Dolly, has caused a great sensation around the world. Though it was not the first time that the experiment using cloning succeeded, the reason why Dolly shocked the world was that she was the first clone from a cell of an adult mammal, something previously thought to be impossible. This meant that the possibility of cloning human beings was increased. For fear of realizing human cloning, a lot of countries have taken necessary measures to regulate the study of it. Some people, such as scientists in this field and certain infertile couples, are now arguing against banning it.

The discovery of cloning can be both beneficial and harmful to society. There are many reasonable methods of cloning. For instance, the use of cloning for medical purposes can be helpful in taking human DNA and creating new body parts.

Because of the shortage of donors, this could become a valuable asset to our society. When transplants are needed, it could give physicians the ability to create body parts through DNA. For example, a kidney can be grown outside the body using the patients’ own DNA and used in a transplant without the fear of rejection. But it is important to note that cloning of human body parts could be very harmful if it were to get into the wrong hands.

Cloning in the field of medicine could also have practical applications. With more DNA analysis we could derive a way of preventing and curing diseases such as AIDS and cancer. Genetic defects could also be cured with cloning technology. A genetic defect is a mutation in which the DNA has been altered and caused an abnormality in the body. People who wish to have a child could be tested for possible mutations in the DNA, and a genetic solution could be created and injected into the still developing egg. Mutations’ are natural, but when an abnormality occurs it’s a hard thing for a person to live with. Through cloning technology, genetic defects could be treated enabling the person affected the possibility of longer life.

There are many people in the world who will do anything for the sake of money. As a result, cloning technology is in danger of being