This informative essay was the first essay that assigned in this class. Cloning has increasing become a talked about issue in the scientific community. Both sides on the matter have a point on what measures should be in placed for this new type of science especially when it comes to human cloning. Here I take the stance of somebody who favors the use of cloning a scientific technique with a huge potential for the future of biology; only in the right hands. I discus the general backstory of cloning, and show the anti-cloning position. Then I address each of these claims with evidence from independent researchers and projected statistics. This paper overall tries to simplify the cloning issue into it main problems and is geared towards a more general, as seen with the use of the eye-catching picture and title.

 

 

What is the future of cloning?

The body of scientific knowledge seems to be moving at an exponential rate, faster than it ever has in previous centuries. Though it seems that it most fields of scientific innovation progress has no problem being adopted in society, there is one field that is stagnated by the ethical principles engrained in our culture, biology. Biology has slowly pecked at our definition of human, demoting our superior complex to the point of being related to the chimp. As biologist began to learn more about ourselves through genetic interpretation there has been an increased movement form various audience that distrust such advancements which fail to compare with their ideals of human beings. This movements have cause division between the scientific community and the general populous advocating natural and non-GMO products, ultimately nothing that has been engineered. In the recent years cloning technology has been developing and catching the eyes of media for some time and has been negatively advertised to the public through different means of media. However, as recent evidence and benefits surface about the potential benefits of cloning it is time to ask, is it time to accept cloning becoming a reality?

Cloning is the concept of genetically engineering an identical version of a species through specific scientific techniques. Even though the techniques of creating identically genetic zygotes is a relatively new type of science the process of selecting genes to be present in the of the offspring has been a practice for centuries (Foote). This process, known as selective breeding, has given way too many of the specific variation of life we have on this biosphere today. It has given way for beefier yields of cattle raised, bigger chickens farmed, even the corn we enjoy today is a result of countless accounts of selective breeding. Of course, due to technological advancements and the increase in the scientific body of knowledge their will be more of an opportunity to exploit genetics to benefit mankind, so what makes cloning any different than the techniques that are developing now? Now instead of having to consistently mate parents that may have a different onset of genes in a multitude of generations to get a viable offspring, scientist can create a repeated amount of desired offspring just from fertilizing needed gametes. Such a process will simplify the farming process drastically, allowing for less waste in resources to create the meat we need greatly reducing the price of meant while simultaneously reducing greenhouse emissions.

With every new step in technological achievement there is going to be backlash, which is good. It creates a correction complex which allows of different human minds to “peer review” any major consequences that may occur and fosters serious examinations to predict were further development will lead them (Kolata). In the case with cloning there is some arguments counter to development. One of the most present claims by far (and the most portrayed in media) is the use of cloning on human beings (Zimmer). This a serious concern especially for the ethical concerns associated. This is the primary reason for the tight regulation on cloning, as such technology could be abused if in the wrong hands (Morales). Thankfully because of tight regulation cloning humans don’t seem likely in the foreseeable future, as well as experiments done would be heavily scrutinized by the general public. Another problem that arises is cloning is very inefficient as it yields very low success rate which has been reported to have a success rate of 3% (Savulescu). Such data is true but that is a given with any type of development, as more resources are invested into the technology it will make it only more efficient.

Cloning is a very controversial practice and has a lot of more clinical testing and public approval before it can be useful, but as we become more dependent on science to make humanity easier as well as quenching their thirst for curiosity it is only a matter of time. So let’s make sure implementation is done right the first time to appease any skepticism about cloning, as in the words of Madame de Steal “ Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if man’s power is increased, the checks that restrain him from abusing it must be strengthened.”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Foote, R. “The History of Artificial Insemination: Selected Notes and Notables .” Journal of Animal Science, 2002, jas.fass.org .

Kolata, Gina. “Yes, They’ve Cloned Monkeys in China. That Doesn’t Mean You’re Next.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/science/cloned-monkeys-china.html.

Morales, N M. “Psychological Aspects of Human Cloning and Genetic Manipulation: the Identity and Uniqueness of Human Beings.” Reproductive Biomedicine Online, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19891847.

Savulescu, Julian. “The Ethics of Cloning.” Medicine, 2005, www.academia.edu/19555650/The_Ethics_of_Cloning.

Zimmer, Carl. “Genetically Modified People Are Walking Among Us.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Dec. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/12/01/sunday-review/crispr-china-babies-gene-editing.html.