Further Knowledge Of Reproductive System
Some scientist justify human embryo cloning as ethical on the basis that it allows us to better understand the process whereby a morula attaches itself to the uterus lining.
The development of such knowledge will benefit certain women who are unable to bear children due to the inability to naturally implant a zygote to the uterus.
Development of new knowledge in this area will allow new and effective contraceptives with fewer side effects to be developed.
Cloning can also bring about improvements to the conventional process of in vitro fertilization. In a situation where a female is able to supply only one egg, cloning allows the egg to be duplicated for fertilisation and implantation. This ultimately increases the chances of pregnancy, thus bringing new hope to the many hopeful couples around the world who want to conceive children of their own.
Greater Control Over Genetic Traits
Human embryo cloning can also be used to detect genetic defects passed from one generation to another. The fertilised ovum can first be cloned and tested for genetic defects. Based on the logic that both ova are clones, if one is free of genetic defects, so will the other. Thus, testing for genetic defects can be performed before the embryo is allowed to mature to term.
On the other hand, certain talents such as musical ability may be genetically influenced. Hence, using the DNA of an adult who possesses such talents may produce infants with similar abilities.
Fertility Issues
Cloning technology can be used to help infertile heterosexual couples. By allowing the husband to provide the genetic information to be cloned while the wife bears the child.
It will also be possible for lesbians to have their own children instead of resorting to methods such as artificial insemination by a man's sperm. One woman can provide the necessary genetic material to fertilise the ovum while the other can provide the ovum.
From the two examples above, we can see that these couples will thus achieve a greater sense of "ownership" as the child's genes will be purely from his or her parents. This is probably more preferable than the conventional procedure for in vitro fertilisation, whereby the child is conceived using the sperm of an anonymous male donor.
Q: How can genetic engineering be used to improve human health?
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