Cloning creates a copy of a single cell or an entire living organism. Each clone bears the same sets of genetic
Naturally, the term is used for identical or monozygotic twins as they are natural clones of each other. Cloning, as a sudden scientific concept, has shown itself to the general public as a technique that can be done with ease and relative success since it accomplished the cloning of the Dolly, the sheep in 1997
The success of cloning in rhesus macaque monkeys
With the fast-changing environment and so much scientific research and medical development, cloning seems to occur widely shortly. However, is it a possible option to help revive the population of species or just another ambitious attempt to achieve immortality
On this page, we will explore its pros and cons and decide whether this scientific endeavor is worth the risks.
Pros of Cloning Since the first successful execution of the process in 1996, cloning has become a useful technique in the field of biotechnology plants animals
1. It can help prevent the extinction of species
As many organisms in the planet approach endangerment and extinction, cloning appears to be a possible solution to restore populations. By utilizing the genetic material of already dead organisms, cloning can even expand gene pool diversity.
Aside from that, the cloning of extinct animals studying their remains Although considered an artificial reproduction mode, cloning is widespread in a natural setting. The oldest form of cloning, asexual reproduction microorganisms
2. It can help increase food production
Another major advantage of cloning is that it can serve as a means to increase agricultural production, particularly livestock and fresh produce lottery ” and random arrangements in the genes during meiosis
During cloning, the gene of interest, as well as the organism bearing that gene of interest, is replicated faster than those undergoing the natural process. Because of this, the number of organisms produced at a given time also increases.
3. It can help couples who want to have children
Last but not the least is the use of cloning as a means to produce children for infertile and same-sex couples. Normally, couples would want to have children that are biologically theirs. Interestingly, the genetic manipulations could now be targeted at giving the children the genetic traits of both parents.
Children can now be produced even without donor eggs or donor sperms surrogate ” parent to carry the clone until its birth. Scientists who support this method believe that it would become justifiable for these couples to reproduce in this method, assuming the procedures could be done safely.
Cons of Cloning Although cloning promises considerable advantages for research and industries, the endpoint is only sometimes certain because of the high risks of losses and morbidity of organisms during their development. Aside from that, the mere process of cloning remains to be elucidated. The following are some of its most common cons.
1. The process is not entirely safe and accurate
Despite being genetically identical with each other, clones will not be the same regarding behavioral attributes. Aside from that, their similarities regarding physical appearance are not guaranteed.
It should be important to note that genetic material is not the sole determinant of these characteristics. Of course, chances that a pair of clones will be subjected to different habitats and have varying nutritional loads are very high, thus imprinting different changes and contributions to each one. Aside from that, most clones produced have had reduced longevity and developed health problems. For instance, Dolly the sheep had abnormalities in her DNA (i.e., shortened telomeres), suggesting that some of her own cells bear the “age ” of the source organisms.
2. It is regarded as unethical, and the probability of abuse is very high
One of the strongest arguments against cloning is about its ethical concerns
In the case of Dolly, the sheep, more than 277 attempts were conducted before a viable clone was produced. This only suggests that if humans were to be cloned, scientists would need to conduct numerous “failed ” attempts. With that, critics highly believe that it would be unethical to clone humans unless these problems become known and be resolved at a level of certainty.
3. The offspring lack genetic uniqueness
Majority of the concerns against cloning are based on the absence of unique nuclear DNA in the child’s genome. However, as mentioned above, the notion that cloning would only result in the absence of genetic uniqueness would no longer be justifiable, assuming that the procedures are conducted safely.
Again, the process of cloning still needs further studies.
4. It is not yet fully-developed
To date, many scientists will agree that the process of cloning is not yet fully developed to be used as a way to promote the conservation of species. Some researchers need to acknowledge cloning as it fails to recognize the main drivers of extinction in the first place: the destruction of habitats and hunting.
Critics also argue that even if cloning could help in desperate times, present techniques to execute these goals are deemed ineffective in making a difference. As compared with cloning domestic organisms (e.g., cattle), the process of cloning endangered species is more difficult and would likely take years (and even decades) to complete. While there are many reasons why countless attempts to revive endangered and extinct species have failed, they all exhibited one major trouble: they were not exact copies of their supposed-to-be counterparts.
Overall, scientific research developments go faster than the actual and real needs of humans, who are the ultimate recipients of such progress. Because of that, there is a pressing need to determine whether such practical applications are timely or are indeed necessary for human survival.
To date, many people still believe that the process of cloning itself is not ethical. Many countries have prohibited all research and actual cloning processes, making it. Nevertheless, the process of cloning is still up for further studies.
Cite This Page
“BBC – GCSE Bitesize: Advantages and disadvantages of cloning” . Accessed January 31, 2018. Link .“Cloning: Definitions And Applications – Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human Reproductive Cloning – NCBI Bookshelf” . Accessed January 31, 2018. Link .“Human Cloning Ethics: The Pros and Cons | EnergyFanatics.com” . Accessed January 31, 2018. Link .“Will Cloning Ever Save Endangered Animals? – Scientific American” . Accessed January 31, 2018. Link .
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The artificial creation of life; sounds like “Frankenstein” at the genetic level. We will.never have another “Picasso” or “Einstein” (not that way), that’s nuture not nature. Just because we “can” doesn’t mean that we “should”. What about when clones reproduce. Doesn’t that bring forward recessive genes, making a species more vulnerable. Will that create a domino effect that will take out that species? It worries me. It reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut’s ” ice nine”; a beautiful but deadly thing. Cloning human beings; no. Just let God and nature take care of that. Other things, well……..please be careful!