The Advantages of Cloning

The Advantages of Cloning

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In 1997, scientists from Scotland cloned a sheep named Dolly, and the possibility of cloning became a reality to the world.  

Scientists see cloning as possible solutions to the following issues: infertility, organ transplantation, disease research treatment, genetic engineering to perfect human and animal offspring and designing the healthiest food crops. There are three types of cloning that would accomplish these goals.  They are DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning.

The author feels that cloning could be a solution to infertility. “About 15% of Americans are infertile, and doctors are usually cannot help them. Federal statistics show that in vitro fertilization and relate technologies have a success rate of less than 20%. Hence cloning may provide en efficient solution to infertility. Women that are infertile can have their own babies with the help of this technique by implanting the cloned embryos into their bodies. Furthermore, with the help of cloning, we can save the species facing extinction” (ThinkQuest Internet Challenge team C0122429, n.d.).  I feel that a more humane solution to infertility would be the adoption of a child who has no parents. I do not understand why so many people do not feel the need to care for children who are abandoned, unloved, or alone by circumstances. My personal opinion is we do not need to make more when there are so many already who are in need.

Cloning would provide organs for transplantation. Certain animal organs are able to be transplanted into humans successfully, the author states a case that pigs could be cloned to give humans needed organs without the lengthy wait some patients endure.  The author claims that “cloning may provide a better understanding of the nature of genetic diseases and aid in the production of embryos from which cells could be obtained to grow various organs for organ transplant” (ThinkQuest Internet Challenge team C0122429, n.d.). Stem cell transplants could be used in cancer treatment as well as other diseases to save human life by creating a clone which would provide the healthy cells.

In the issue of perfecting infants, the author explains that the child’s genes and be altered to ensure a healthy baby. If an unhealthy baby was born, a cloned child could be created to use as spare parts and transplants to sure the original child. You could also use cloning as a way to choose the characteristics you want in your child, such as eye color, physical ability, and intelligence.

My opinion is that I am intrigued by the advances and the hope that cured to diseases can be found soon, but I am not ready to fund or support a practice that I find morally wrong. I believe God created all things, and we are all special and essential in His plan. No one has the right to make a decision to create a life in order to cut it up and use it for research and testing.