Introduction to Cloning
Cloning is defined in The American Heritage Dictionary as "a replica of a DNA sequence, such as a gene, produced by genetic engineering". It is at once a fascinating and frightening aspect of biotechnology, and it is one of the most controversial scientific possibilities of our time. In 1997, a sheep named Dolly was supposedly cloned, making her the first "artificial" mammal on Earth. This event raised a large number of legal and ethical issues involving the technology, and caused some people to wonder about the merits of biotechnology as a whole.
Cloning in itself is not unethical, or even uncommon - every time someone grows a new plant from a cutting, they are cloning a living organism. When molecular biologists use PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to amplify and study a piece of DNA, they are cloning genetic material. Neither of these ordinary events are in any way unethical. However, these examples are not major ethical concerns. It is the cloning of animals and humans that has many people worried.
Cloning as a Reducer of Genetic Diversity
When cloning technology was first proposed, many scientists had visions of vast herds of genetically identical livestock, selected and cloned for meat quality and disease resistance. These scientists saw fields of crops genetically manipulated for optimum output and pest resistance. While excellent ideas, these visions are neither feasible or desirable now or at any time in the future.
Genetic diversity is the number of different genetic combinations available in a given gene pool. Humans have very high genetic diversity, because their are many genetic combinations available. Cheetahs have low genetic variability, because they are all virtually genetically identical. This makes them all susceptible to the same diseases and pests. Therefore, an epidemic of a disease to which they have low resistance could decimate the entire population, rather than just the susceptible individuals.
Herds of cloned livestock and fields of cloned crops have the same potential problemas the cheetahs described above. Currently, livestock and crops have vast genetic resources available to them in the event of a disease epidemic. If humans engineer livestock and crops to be resistant to today's threatening diseases, we could remove the important genetic resources possessed by these organisms to resist new, novel diseases never before encountered.
The results of this sort of "genetic mismanagement" could be disastrous. With genetically identical livestock and crops, a new disease could destroy 100% of the food resources of a given area, causing widespread famine and food shortages.
Cloning as a Military Weapon
It has been speculated that the cloning of humans could be employed to create an unstoppable "designer army". This army would be made up of genetically identical, enhanced individuals with great physical strength and artificial immunity to many diseases. The members of this hypothetical army would most likely be capable of enduring extreme physical hardship, and could even be "tailored" to the environment in which they were fighting. For example, an army sent to the tropics would be immune to tropical diseases and would be capable of fighting in extremely hot weather. An army sent to the Arctic Circle would be tolerant of exposure to very cold temperatures for long periods of time.
Needless to say, this hypothetical scenario would be impossible to bring to fruition with today's technology. However, it is a possibility in the far future that has many people worried about developments in biotechnology. There is a need to monitor the biotechnology developments of all nations through an international peacekeeping agency such as the United Nations. Only open communication and careful regulation regarding biotechnology can keep this nightmare from becoming reality.
Human Cloning
The cloning of entire human beings for any reason is inherently unethical. It violates the "sanctity of life" philosophy held in some variety by almost every culture on the globe. It could lead to the "designer army" scenario described above. Cloning could reduce genetic diversity in humans, lowering the disease resistance of the human population as a whole. It could also lead to inbreeding among genetically similar or identical individuals, which results in higher incidence of birth defects and further reduction of genetic diversity. In addition, it could put great strain on the food resources of our already-overpopulated planet. For all these reasons, human cloning is the ultimate taboo, being considered unethical, illegal, and undesirable in scientific, political, and religious circles.
Cloning as a Medical Tool
The possibility exists to take human DNA and clone specific organs or body parts, such as the liver, spine, or skin. This type of cloning cannot be seen as anything but a good thing. It could save thousands of lives by replacing damaged organs or body parts - for example, cloning skin for a burn victim, a spine for a paraplegic, or a liver for a hepatitis victim. This technology could vastly reduce the demand for donated organs while simultaneously eliminating the possibility of organ rejection. In addition, it would eliminate the need for immunosuppressive drugs that render organ recipients vulnerable to common diseases. The technology is not currently available, but is being studied.
Cloning: Ethical Principles
- Cloning is not inherently unethical and should be approached with an open mind.
- Genetically engineered and cloned livestock and crops is not desirable, because these techniques reduce genetic diversity and could lead to the destruction of these food products by new and novel disease. The results of this could be widespread famine and food shortages.
- Cloning should never be employed to create a "designer army". The United Nations or other international organization should use open communication and close regulation of all nations' biotechnology programs.
- The cloning of entire humans in any way, shape, or form is unethical. It reduces genetic diversity, leads to inbreeding, and taxes the resources of the overpopulated planet.
- Cloning organs or body parts for therapeutic medical purposes is an ethical use of cloning and could improve the lives of millions of people.
Created by Kate Stafford and Michael Mannor for ThinkQuest.
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