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Cloning

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12 November 2010
Cloning
Human, animal, and plant cloning is one of the most controversial subjects in modern science. There are many good arguments in favor of cloning, as well as many against it. In my opinion, plant and animal cloning could be very efficient to society by way of creating more food, but I also view it as unethical. In this essay I will discuss many pro’s and con’s of cloning. Cloning can help the human race in many ways, but is it necessary? One way it can help us is by the cloning of plants and animals. In doing this, we could create more food and genetically engineer the food to maximize its health. "Commercial livestock cloning could inundate the food supply with novel products that have not been safety tested."(Mendelson). Most scientists who oppose the idea claim that cloned animals usually have birth defects, and have not been properly tested for safe consumption. Although this could be true, with the rapidly advancing technology in today’s world it probably will not be long until cloning is perfected, and the animals pass all tests. However, is the cloning of animals really necessary for us to survive? Those who are on the more ethical side of the matter believe that God has and will continue to provide us with plenty of plants and animals to survive on. Thus, the argument can go back and forth depending on your beliefs and personal ethics. Ultimately the answer to the question is what you make it. Another way cloning can benefit us is by the cloning of human organs, or “Therapeutic cloning.” If a person is dying as a result of a defected organ, this technology could simply create the person a new and solve the problem. However, is it safe? “Advocates for cloning believe the technique will push medicine toward curing diseases. What most advocates fail to mention are the abnormalities and other physical defects that go along with both therapeutic and reproductive cloning.”(Wright). Even though this type of cloning is said to have many benefits, some believe it to be unsafe. One reason is because adult cells are shortcoming. Only part of a cell is usable so it takes many cells to obtain enough eggs to actually cure a disease. Also, in some patients a cell will cause tumors as a result of the cell mutating. As the reader can see, there are as many risks, as there are rewards when it comes to therapeutic cloning. In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, a man essentially clones, or creates a human being, by accident. He was so consumed with this idea of creating the impossible that all the morals he was taught as a child were thrown out the window. The pros and cons listed above were in no relation to the case of the monster created in Frankenstein. If humans themselves were cloned, they would feel just like the creature: alone, afraid, and irrelevant to society. "Once we cross the fundamental moral line that prevents us from treating any fellow human being as a mere object of research, there is no stopping point.”(Berlatsky). This is no way for a human being to live. With out natural parents a clone would have no one to look to for guidance, love, and support. This would leave the clone with no understanding of its purpose and perhaps cause it to act out in violence to get a point across as in Frankenstein. Maybe there are ways cloning can be helpful to the human race. However, I strongly believe human cloning will in no way help the human race. All it will do in my opinion is insult God. I believe God creates everyone on earth with a purpose. All human cloning will lead to is a world full of lost, purposeless, insults to God. Victor Frankenstein learned this soon after his creation of the creature. There are many different types of cloning and many different opinions on them. I think by reading this essay the reader has found there is no right way to think. The answer to the question is essentially the readers opinion on the matter. “The science of cloning will almost inevitably shape human existence as we know it from this point forward. With cloning for food and therapeutic purposes being pursued with some level of success and the cloning of humans looming on the horizon, it is important that individuals participate in informed debate about the ethical implications of this technology. Comprehending the science of cloning is essential to understanding how cloning will shape the future, and this understanding will aid everyone in weighing the potential costs and benefits of this groundbreaking technology.”(Levine). Whether you’re for or against any type of cloning, I encourage you to go out and make a difference in the scientific world of cloning. However be cautious to how deep you travel into the world of cloning. You would not want to end up like Victor Frankenstein. Works Cited
Aaron D. Levine, Cloning: A Beginner's Guide. Oxford, U.K.: OneWorld, 2007. Copyright © Aaron D. Levine 2007. Reproduced by permission. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.
"The Catholic Church Must Oppose Embryonic Stem Cell Research." The Catholic Church. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.
DeLancy, Siobhan, Larisa Rudenko, and John Matheson. "Cloned Animals Are Safe to Use for Food." Genetic Engineering. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.
"Embryonic Stem Cells Should Not Be Used for Cloning." Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.
"The Ethics of Cloning: An Overview." The Ethics of Cloning. Ed. David M. Haugen, Susan Musser, and Kacy Lovelace. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.
Mendelson, Joseph, III. "Cloned Animals Should Not Be Used for Food." Genetic Engineering. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.
Shelley Kohrs. Pros and Cons of Cloning. www.ehow.com. 2 Oct 2009. Web. 8 November 2010.
Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein Or The Modern Prometheus. New York, NY, USA. Penguin Books. 1992. Print.
Wendy Wright, "Cloning: Medical Miracle or Human Hubris?" Concerned Women for America, June 17, 2003. www.cwfa.org. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

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