To clone or not to clone? (GM and cloning)

Member Name: Charris2002

Product:	GM and cloning
Date:	17/11/08 (209 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Many

Disadvantages: Many

Cloning was until very recently, one of the cornerstones of science fiction, both pulp and serious science fiction. Depending on your point of view, cloning falls into one of two categories - an incredible scientific advance or an abhorrent crime against nature.

Okay, I know these are two extremes, but it seems to be one of those issues where people have very strong pro or anti feelings. Personally, I believe that anything has the potential to improve our understanding of life, to advance medical science by providing the opportunity to prolong or improve the quality of life should be given the resources necessary for dedicated, extensive research.

I am not one of those people who believe animals were put on this earth, or evolved for our use - however, nor am I a person who believes that all animals are our equal. If research on animals will advance our understanding without unnecessary suffering to them, I have no real problem with it. We all have heard and seen graphic demonstrations where animals suffer horrendously in testing - let me say categorically, I do not regard the testing of shampoo, makeup, soap etc on animals as acceptable.

Cloning, I believe has many potential uses - the end to the extinction of entire species (but not as a replacement of species existing in their natural environment), a reduction in the need for organ donation and the need for anti-rejection drugs (grow your own replacement organs), love yourself? (have another you!) - What about IVF? I have close friends who are desperate to have children of their own - they see nothing wrong with using advanced scientific methods to help them conceive, but recoil visibly at the thought of cloning. Why? There is no evidence that cloning will result in a duplicate person, that looks, talks, and behaves as you do. (the old nature v nurture debate?).

Seriously though, your child needs a transplant, none are available. What do you do? Hope? Pray for an fatal accident to happen so that someone loses a loved one but your child is saved because the unfortunate victim carried a donor card? Not a nice thought, but most of us would probably pray for this sad chain of events. I accept that some religious beliefs will be violently opposed to the idea of cloning and I appreciate that point of view. However, I am also a keen believer in the old adages 'live and let live' and 'each to their own' - I am tolerant of others beliefs and believe in individual choice, without prejudice.

On the other hand, it does need to be carefully controlled and regulated, although how this is done I really don't know. How many stories have you read about 'illegal cloning', 'illegal experiments in cloning' etc?. It does, and will continue to generate shock!horror! headlines in the Sunday papers and daily rags. Some of the most respected scientists of the day have been publicly vilified for their support of cloning research - 100 years ago they would have declared heretic. Some would make the same claim today and who am I to say they are wrong?

Summary: Just my view of cloning