Bioethics-CloningWhen Dolly the sheep was announced to be artificially cloned, there was an explosive reaction. The scientific community was divided on their views, as well as the world. The debate has not stopped since as well. Cloning experiments go one, but people are fearful. If a sheep can be cloned, is it possible for a human to be artificially cloned as well? Should these kinds of experiments proceed at all? DetailsCloning has enormous potential in many fields. It is hoped that perhaps organs can be cloned, saving hundreds of lives a year with little chance of immune response. It must be understood that if a human such as Hitler is cloned, it would not be the same Hitler. As mentioned before, humans are products of their environments as well. The environment Hitler lived in would need to be recreated. From a logical standpoint, it is probably better to brainwash a random individual than take the trouble of creating a Hitler that won’t have the signature Hitler characteristics. Movies take delight in showing whole armies being cloned, creating an everlasting source of military force. While this is possible, there are many obstacles to overcome in cloning a military. It will be some time before an effective way to clone is found. It is probably more effective to build up a stockpile of hydrogen bombs. However, the main question is – should cloning experimentation go on at all? Most of the fears are not feasible, but anything is possible. It is unwise to close off a branch of experimentation based on these fears, but caution must be used. Many nations are setting up protocols and setting rules on what studies are allowed and those that are strictly prohibited. Where we draw the line, however, is yet another question. Additional Resources and LinksReferencesThe President’s Council on Bioethics. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2004, from http://bioethics.gov |