Human Cloning Rough Draft

A Step In a New Direction

Ethicality, research, possibility. When the subject of human cloning is brought up most tend to think of the various sci-fi films involving numerous similar looking individuals with the same exact personality and memories. However, what isn't known is how human cloning can be viewed in a positive light because of its potential within both reproductive cloning that involves the creation of a new and regenerative medicine also known as therapeutic cloning. It involves cloning certain cells from a human body to be used in various fields of medicine. Human cloning should be funded by the government and given more freedom because of the benefits it can provide to society through enhanced human development, bypass the obstacle of infertility, provide faster physical recovery from serious injury, and possible treatment from serious diseases.

One of the possibilities that human cloning revolves around is the safety in the development of humans by ensuring that there are no issues involving genetic defects or possible disorders. Already nearly 7.9 million children are born with a serious birth defect of genetic or partially genetic origin yearly (John Harris). The amount of people currently holding some form of a genetic struggle are extremely high at 350 million. Thus action must be taken currently in order to cut down this staggering number as efficiently as possible.Through human cloning we may be able to unlock provide this immense and achievable potential. This number can be greatly reduced if only we pursue human cloning because of its immense potential. According to the Telegraph, there are currently legal ways of controlling fertility like genetic screening and pre-implanation diagnoses (PGD), that are currently accepted by the public and hold positive effects on the human genome instead of the opposite as some may have feared (John Harris). Therefore for the sake of our future descendents laws should be made and some removed in order to allow future researchers to be given more freedom into the field along with a slightly tight control by the government.

Now there is a slight possibility that it may be abused in some ways or even in one slight chance used as a weapon. Therefore, there would constantly be a need for there to be watchful eyes over what goes on in terms of research or tests especially by the government. So that any possible disastrous scenarios can be avoided.

Would you allow the chance for an infertile couple to have children? If so then cloning also holds the key for infertile couples to have children. Of course the child will be a genetic copy of the somatic cell donor that they are based from. The overall process isn't at all painful, but rather very simple. It involves the removal of the nucleus of an egg and instead replacing it with the diploid nucleus of a somatic cell(Kathi E. Hanna). Most would argue or ask the question Wouldn't the clone be exactly the same as their donor? the answer is no they are only similar in terms of DNA. The behavior and nature of the person would be entirely different and based on their environment just like any other child. People will also argue that clones of individuals are unethical because they share similar identities, however what about twins? They right now can be viewed as nature's version of clones and according to the Telegraph Media Group currently one in 270 births are twins, around 200,000 live in the UK alone(John Harris). In terms of technicality clones already walk among us everyday.

Human cloning may also hold viable solutions in terms of humans recovering quickly from various injuries through the usage of embryonic stem cells. This form of cloning is also given names such as regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. A current form of stem cell therapy would be a bone marrow transplant that involves new blood making cells to prepare their body and later involving stem cells in an IV connected to their bloodstream. The stem cells used in this therapy can either originate from a separated umbilical cord after a baby is born or bone marrow from a donor. However, a bit recently approximately three years ago the UWIRE a few South Korean doctors stated that they were successful in being able to clone a human embryo and had even managed to extract stem cells from it in order to use it for future research(Eileen Arnold). There's been some disagreements regarding their usage due to how they are a fragile form of life because of their possibility of being turned into a human. While it is acknowledged stem cell research provides various benefits that can greatly improve life.The Biotechnology Innovation Organization states that embryonic stem cells can be transformed into any type of cell in the body(Jim Greenwood). This brings about various exciting possibilities of replacing various different damaged tissues and even recreating specific organs required for transplants without having to wait for a donor. Allowing everyone a higher chance of both survival and recovery.

Therapeutic cloning can also allow for treatments against diseases with the usage of stem cells. For instance The Guardian recently revealed that scientists have found out that a treatment using stem cells for Parkinson's disease may be suitable for humans just as it was suitable for mice( James Randerson). Furthermore, stem cells are being studied to be used against diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes. However, it is true that there have been a few situations in which stem cells inserted into the wrong areas have resulted in patients having seizures. In spite of this more research should at least be conducted in order to remove these ailments from affecting any more people.

Human cloning should be funded by the government and given more freedom because of the benefits it can provide to society through enhancing and protecting human development from disorders, bypassing the obstacle of infertility with the promises of new families,provide faster physical recovery from grievous injuries, and possible treatments from serious diseases. The future can be a brighter place through the various issues that can be solved and avoided with the immense help it can bring from things ranging from home life to the medical field.

WORK CITED

Harris, John. ""We have Nothing to Fear about Cloning Humans."" Telegraph.co.uk., 25 Jan. 2018, pp. n/a. SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com. Accessed Nov 15, 2018

Arnold, Eileen. ""Cloning Embryos: Scientific Milestone Or Moral Offense?"" University Wire, 2015. SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com. Accessed Nov 15, 2018

Hanna, Kathi E. Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cells. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), Apr. 2006, www.genome.gov/10004765/cloningembryonic-stem-cells/. Accessed Nov 15, 2018

Ning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry. The President's Council on Bioethics, U.S Government, July 2002, Accessed Nov 16, 2018

Greenwood, Jim. The Value of Therapeutic Cloning for Patients. BIO, www.bio.org/articles/value-therapeutic-cloning-patients.

Randerson, James. Therapeutic Cloning Offers Hope of Treatment for Parkinson's. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 24 Mar. 2008, www.theguardian.com/science/2008/mar/24/neuroscience.genetics.

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