Recently, the unbelievably swift development of Biotechnology has left many gaping in awe, and unable to discern the consequences of Genetic Engineering. When in fact it is a very dangerous tool when left in the hands of the wrong people (i.e. those who would use it carelessly for their own benefit, thus harming others), the authorities are hesitant in stopping its development. Where there is danger, there are warnings, and where there are alien developments, there is the birth of many different (and conflicting) viewpoints. We take this opportunity today to let you have a close look at these views & predictions.

We have gathered the views and predictions of three groups of people, namely:

This is a tadpole!

As the nature of this topic is ambiguous and vast, the things people say about it varies very widely, and it is our hope that you, as the recipient of such contrasts, retain an open mind throughout this experience.

" We can't see a clinical reason to copy a human being. Furthermore,we are briefing authorities to make sure this technique is not misused." " Our main objective is to drive the project forward to enable us to study genetic diseases for which there are presently no cures." -- Dr Ian Wilmut, 52-year-old embyologist at the Roselin Institute in Edinburgh, head of the research team that made the breakthrough in cloning.
" It's unbelievable... It basically means that there are no limits. It means all of science fiction is true. They said it could never be done and now here it is, done before the year 2000." " It is so typical for scientists to say they are not thinking about the implications of their work." -- Dr Lee Silver, Biology Professor at Princeton university.
"People who clone will be playing God and this could be dangerous." -- Associate Professor Ding Jeck Ling of the National University of Singapore's School of Biological Sciences
" With such technology, it has become theoretically possible to create several copies of an Einstein or Shakespeare. But the question is, is this desirable, or even necessary?" -- A professor who has taught courses on genetics at the National University of Singapore

"Contrary to what some might have been led to believe, cloning is and always will be a moral issue."

"She wants to bring her dead father back to life as a baby, perhaps even carrying him in her own womb. Bringing back one's ancestor so that one can recreate him as a descendant is a totally bizarre idea which challenges the very order of life and death."

-- Dr Patrick Dixon, a writer on genetic matters.

" The most complex issue has to do with life and death, the whole meaning of human existance itself."

" There's no way to stop it."

-- Law professor John Robertson at the University of Texas, commenting on human cloning even if a law was passed against it.

Does the clone have a soul and the sinful nature of Adam? There is always a fear of the misuse of scientific technology for selfish motives. The use of clones to provide spare parts for the body, means the demise of a clone which is murder. The Church has condemned social engineering as immoral cloning is. No one must usurp the unique power of God to create. " And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7

-- The Christian viewpoint

Humans at this moment are not even capable of eradicating racism. How in the world will they cope with cloned individuals? It would be the natural thing to think the creator as superior, but in this case he in fact is not. There is thus a confusion of roles, and this is something I do not think we can manage as yet.

-- Cheryl Tsao

Are we really up to Playing God? This process of cloning and genetically engineering humans produce several casualties. Many unborn lives do not get a chance to live. Out of the ONE clone, many other lives did not get a chance to see the world. They developed until the fetal stage and do not survive. Is there any difference in cloning and abortion? And to genetically engineer humans, will we reach the stage when mad scientists really emerge and start to take over the world by creating engineered humans? Will the 'High-tech Hitler II' emerge and start a war with the genetic-engineered people? Will genetically-enginereed humans feel out of place in society and start revolts? Will they be despised and categorised? It may sound crazy, but nothing is impossible for the future!

-- Kai Lin

Genetic engineering may be an advance in technology, but I do not approve of it. Like the Christian point of view, I think that God created all living things and that we should not try to be God. We are also interefering with the course of nature by adding other living things into society which were "not meant to be". After all, why we want to genetically engineer other living species is mainly for our own economic benefits. Really... is earning a little bit of money THAT worth interefering with this delicate balance of nature and possibly, endangering our lives?

-- Ruth Khan

Here are some points you might like to think about for a while. After all, it's your world on the balance, why not put in a little effort in keeping it intact?

What will be the consequences of a continuation in the development of Gene-manipulation technology?

What will a society of genetically altered beings be like?

What are genetically altered beings to be treated as? Aliens? Or one of us?

If something was to happen that would induce a clone-revolution in the future, who would accept the responsibility for these creatures? The government, for legally allowing the continuation in the study (and discoveries) of genetic manipulation? The people, for not pressing for the preservation of God's natural creations? Or you, for remaining ignorant and not doing your part in rejecting such procedures?

And so what if someone did accept the responsibility? What could be done with a race of clones, completely capable of human thought and emotion, if they decided it was time they got equal rights, and they overthrew their creators?

Are you ready to accept clones as one of your own kind?

In the end, it is the balance of what people want, with what the earth can provide at its optimum. With the present problems of the world (like poverty, disease and racism) already plaguing mankind with suffering, why in the world would we want to introduce even more of them? It is illogical, in the very least. Yet scientists claim it is in the good of mankind to do so. So the question now is -- what do you want for your world?


Back To Main	The Environment	Medical Science	Message Board	Link Page	Guestbook