Samad Iqbal

2-19-14
Period 7 Browne

Cloning in our lives

From the beginning of life, all humans are born with their own distinguishing
characteristics and unique physical appearance that is determined by DNA from both a mother
and father. Since the beginning of time, human life has been created in this way. However,
though, as technology currently develops, the possibility of creating human life through a
scientific means has become much more prevalent. This new process currently being researched
is human cloning, a process in which humans would, theoretically, be able to be reproduced with
certain desirable traits or even as an exact, identical copy of another human-being. So far,
Scientists have made long strides in improving cloning technology, resulting in the inevitable
desire to attempt this process with human DNA. While no human has ever been successfully
cloned, the possibility of such a scientific achievement has driven scientists to pursue such a
task. While the ability to clone humans would be major breakthrough in the scientific world, as
various people would wish to synthesize another human being, the ethical and religious
principles that this process violates would cause much more harm than benefit to our society.
Through experimentation, scientists understanding of the reproductive process and how
to duplicate it has improved dramatically, which has led to the development of a possible cloning
process that could be applied to humans and lead to successful human cloning. Known as
reproductive cloning, this new cloning process is defined as a technology used to produce a
genetically identical organisman animal with the same nuclear DNA as an existing, or even an
extinct, animal" (Wexler online). In order to make an identical copy of an organism, scientists
would have to undergo this process that transplants nuclei from body cells into eggs that have
had their nucleus removed. That egg is then stimulated to divide using an electrical charge and is
implanted into the uterus of a female" (CNN Wire online). This process would result in a mother

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carrying a fetus with the same DNA as the chosen subject due to the identical DNA within the
nucleus implanted. A process that has been improved over time to be significantly more precise
and result in a greater success rate, reproductive cloning, not only has successfully cloned living
organisms such as mammals, yet has shown the potential to successfully clone a human-being.
However though, as with any potentially life-changing technology such as this, the possible
consequences that may arise as a result of experimenting with the creation of human life must be
considered before jumping right into reproducing human-beings, and many people would agree
too.
With the potential ability to create human life, the perimeters of what is and is what is not
ethically and morally acceptable in the scientific world are put into question, as many find that
the loss of human life, in any way, shape or form, is not worth the man-made creation of it,
which by itself is unacceptable as it goes beyond what many believe man has been set out to do.
All of these factors combined make human-cloning an unjustifiable act which must be steered
away from, in order to prevent these life-changing qualities. The religious opposition against
human cloning is widespread among many faiths, such as in the Roman Catholic faith where
their view on human cloning is that the creation of life and subsequent destruction of it for
therapeutic or research purposes is equivalent to murder (Ethics of Human Cloning online).
Along with the moral issues that stem from the potential loss of life human cloning presents, the
diminishing effect on the value of human beings lives that human cloning presents is a cause for
the strong opposition Judaism has against it, as Some Jewish scholars worry that cloning could
make human beings commodities by making it possible to breed clones to have certain
characteristics (Ethics of Human Cloning online). Followers of the Protestant faith would also
agree that Cloning is unethical and immoral and shows a complete disregard for the sanctity of

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human life (Ethics of Human Cloning online). Along with being not ethically sound, past testing
of cloning with animals has had much more failed attempts, rather than actual success. This
presents a great danger, as Human cloning, many experts say, would involve the same failure
rate" (Ethics of Human Cloning online), making human cloning not practical. Although
scientists understanding of cloning has improved dramatically, along with the technology that
has gone along with it, these advancements may prove to be reasons to steer away from
practicing human cloning rather than justifying to pursue human reproduction, as Other
advances in reproductive technologysperm and egg donation, the freezing of human embryos,
and the ability to implant only those embryos that have the most desirable genetic traitshave
contributed to this unease" (Medical Ethics online). These alarming abilities would make clones
much more of a man-made product, rather than a living human being, as all would be produced
to be perfect and almost inhuman.
As with any technological advancement, human cloning does present potential benefits to
the world that may be reason enough to accept the risks that are also associated with this
practice. One bright side that human cloning presents is the ability for infertile couples to have a
child with DNA from both parents, a desired ability that many couples would wish to have. This
desire for genetically related children became prevalent when scientist Severino Antinori
attracted media attention when he maintained that hundreds of infertile couples in Italy and
thousands in the United States had already enrolled in his human cloning initiative (Wexler
online). An unprecedented turnout in support for human cloning, such as this cloning initiative,
could be considered reason enough to pursue this type of technology. With the potential ability to
aid couples who suffer from unfortunate circumstances and cannot bear a child of their own, it
may be our obligation to present human cloning as solution to their problem. In addition to

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creating the gift of a first child for a couple, human cloning also presents the possibility for a
deceased human to be reproduced into a genetically identical human. The way in which human
cloning presents this possibility is through a process where, "The collected tissue could be used
to produce a child that would bear a strong physical resemblance to the dead child, its genetic
parent" (Hyde 76). With this type of technology, scientists would be able to end the grieving of
couples, whose children have died, a devastating loss that may be resolved through human
cloning. However, these possible solutions to global-issues affecting families world-wide remain
only speculation of the possible benefits that human-cloning presents, as long as human-cloning
is not practiced and improved by scientists.
While many argue that pursuing human-cloning will allow us to finally be able to
recreate life, the unprecedented consequences of such actions will be seen through the clones
themselves and negate any benefits that were believed to come from recreating life. Even though
cloned babies are supposed to be exactly identical to its DNA donor, this may not end up being
the end result in actual practice, as many are concerned about the possibility of cloned babies
being born with terrible defects (Hyde 76). This horrific outcome would be a terrible burden for
an infertile couple hoping to receive their own child, even more so devastating to a family
wishing to reproduce a lost loved one. Also, the death of the cloned baby from birth defects due
to our lack of understanding and experience with human cloning would be a tragedy, one which
could easily be prevented by not meddling with human life. This event would also be very
possible as, Even with practiced efforts, some 25 percent of cloned animals have overt
problems, Lanza notes--minor slips during reprogramming, culturing or handling of the embryos
can lead to developmental errors" (Choi 36). Our lack of understanding and success with animal
cloning, even with many practices, makes experimenting with human cloning significantly more

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dangerous, we have never even practiced this type of procedure with a human. Also, unlike
animal cloning, the stakes would be much higher as the lives of human babies would be at risk.
Once this potential hazard becomes evident, families wishing to reproduce a child would
definitely reconsider, as the loss of child once more may be too much to bear, as well the death of
a couples first child. With these potential disasters surrounding human cloning, the possible
benefits of recreating life do not justify pursuing this type of technology.
The risks and consequences associated with human cloning has shown that scientific
progression needs to be kept in check and not try to drastically change or perfect our lives.
Attempting to change life in such a way will only worsen the problems that we face and harm us
for several more generations. As we inevitably face new technological advances in the future, we
must consider all the possible consequences that may arise as a result of pursuing such
advancements, which must be done before exploiting its use, rather than in the aftermath of its
effect. If a vast majority of experts, who have conducted adequate research on every aspect of the
new technological advancement, are in agreement with the use of a new invention, then it may be
put into use, as every action presents potential risks. Yet, we have not developed into an
advanced society by being afraid to explore new areas.

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Works Cited
Choi, Charles Q. "Cloning Of A Human." Scientific American 302.6 (2010): 36.
Science Reference Center. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
"Cloning." Genetics and Genetic Engineering. Barbara Wexler. 2009 ed. Detroit:
Gale, 2010. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
"Cloning Fast Facts." CNN Wire 30 Oct. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
Hyde, Margaret O., and John Setaro. "Facts And Fantasies About Human Cloning."
Medicine's Brave New World. 76. n.p.: Lerner Publishing Group, 2001.
Science Reference Center. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
"Introduction to Medical Ethics: Current Controversies." Medical Ethics. Ed.
Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Current
Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
"Introduction to The Ethics of Human Cloning: At Issue." The Ethics of Human
Cloning. Ed. John Woodward. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. At
Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.