Addressing Human Cloning (click here for arguments) A number of large animals have already been cloned, starting with Dolly the sheep. Even rabbits have been cloned! (though cloning rabbits seems an exercise in biological redundancy.) Genetic mixing also has already begun. A goats DNA has been mixed with a sheep, making a "geep." A camel and llama have also been mixed to create a “cama.” Typically, in each case of animal cloning there have been hundreds of failures before each success. These have included miscarriages, multiple deformities, sudden deaths, gigantism and more. Because of these problems, it is so far almost universally agreed that a cloned human should not be brought to term and delivered.
What is Cloning?
There are two ways to create a human being:
The old fashioned “sexual” method where sperm meets egg, resulting in an embryo.
“Asexual reproduction,” also known as “cloning” or “somatic cell nuclear transfer.”
The nucleus (DNA) from a human egg is removed and replaced with the nucleus (DNA) from the donor's somatic (body) cell.
An electric charge stimulates the new human embryo, and the cloning process is complete.
Fertilization:
Cloning: (Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer)
These diagrams illustrate the difference between natural fertilization vs. cloning. In this first diagram, notice both the sperm and egg have their own nuclear material, shown with red or blue lines. At fertilization, the red and blue lines are together. In cloning, the nuclear material in the egg is removed, and the donor cell that already has all of the nuclear materials is inserted into the empty egg, creating an exact duplicate of the donor.
Missouri Amendment Two
>> Click here to view several excellent TV ads debunking the myths in Missouri Amendment Two.
"Amendment Two was a proportional Titanic. At five pages and 2,000 words, it is half the length of the entire United States Constitution. Its opening paragraph lists 45 sections of the Constitution of Missouri it incredibly deleted or changed." ~Jill Stanek
>> Click here to read Jill Stanek's excellent expose on the lies in Missouri Amendment Two.
Definitions
With this in mind, two terms have been given to human cloning even though there is really only one type.
The term reproductive cloning has been used to describe when a human clone is implanted and delivered as a full term pregnancy. As noted, there is almost complete condemnation of this.
Research, experimental or therapeutic cloning have been the terms used for the other "type". In this, the procedure is identical to the above except that this new cloned human is experimented upon in his or her first few weeks of life and then killed.
Research cloning is sometimes called therapeutic cloning, but that is a misleading term. First, because therapy by reinjection is only one of the many uses to which this cloning can be put. Moreover, it is not therapeutic for the clone -- indeed, the clone is invariably destroyed in the process -- though it may be therapeutic for others. If you donate a kidney to your brother, it would be odd to call your operation a therapeutic nephrectomy. It is not. It's a sacrificial nephrectomy. Accordingly, the very descriptive term "clone and kill" is commonly used for research cloning.
Opinion Polls
Let’s take a look at what the public thinks about cloning right now. International Communications Research conducted this poll in May, 2006. Two questions were asked about cloning. First they addressed reproductive cloning, using the most common “hard case,” infertile couples. This question was asked: “Should scientists be allowed to use human cloning to try to create children for infertile couples?” The results were:
Yes 9.7%
No 83.4%
Don't Know 5.9%
Refused 1.0%
Next, they asked about research cloning. The results were slightly less encouraging.
“Should scientists be allowed to use human cloning to create a supply of human embryos to be destroyed in medical research?” The results were: Yes 11.4%
No 81.2%
Don't Know 6.6%
Refused 0.8%
A number of large animals have already been cloned, starting with Dolly the sheep. Even rabbits have been cloned! (though cloning rabbits seems an exercise in biological redundancy.) Genetic mixing also has already begun. A goats DNA has been mixed with a sheep, making a "
Definitions
Yes 11.4%
