Because
the risks associated with reproductive cloning in humans introduce a very high likelihood of loss of life
, the process is considered unethical. There are other philosophical issues that also have been raised concerning the nature of reproduction and human identity that reproductive cloning might violate.
What are the ethical issues of human cloning?
Ethical issues specific to human cloning include:
the safety and efficacy of the procedure, cloning for destructive embryonic stem cell research
, the effects of reproductive cloning on the child/parent relationship, and the commodification of human life as a research product.
What are the dangers of cloning?
Researchers have observed some adverse health effects in sheep and other mammals that have been cloned. These include
an increase in birth size and a variety of defects in vital organs
, such as the liver, brain and heart. Other consequences include premature aging and problems with the immune system.
Why is there criticism about cloning?
Lanza and Dr. Teitelbaum warned that
children born as a result of cloning might have a high risk of genetic problems
. Their concerns are based on the results of studies in animals, in which clones from several species of mammals have developed health problems.
Why is animal cloning unethical?
Most consumers will likely never eat a cloned animal because
clones are expensive
; it is their progeny that will enter the food chain. Additionally, cloning could lead to creating lines of animals resistant to diseases harmful to humans, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Is cloning cruel?
Animals involved in the cloning process suffer
The cloning of farm animals can involve great suffering. A cloned embryo has to be implanted into a surrogate mother who carries it to birth. Cloned embryos tend to be large and can result in painful births that are often carried out by Caesarean section.
Is cloning good?
Clones are superior breeding animals used to produce
healthier offspring
. Animal cloning offers great benefits to consumers, farmers, and endangered species: Cloning allows farmers and ranchers to accelerate the reproduction of their most productive livestock in order to better produce safe and healthy food.
How is cloning being used today?
Researchers can use clones in many ways.
An embryo made by cloning can be turned into a stem cell factory
. Stem cells are an early form of cells that can grow into many different types of cells and tissues. Scientists can turn them into nerve cells to fix a damaged spinal cord or insulin-making cells to treat diabetes.
Can cloning cause mutations?
There are hundreds of abnormal genes in cloned mice, which explains why so many cloned animals die at or before birth and proves that it would be irresponsible to clone a human being, scientists said.
Are cloned animals healthy?
Most clones that
are normal at birth become as strong and healthy as any other young animals
. Calf and lamb clones with abnormalities at birth may continue to have health problems for the first few months of life.
Is human cloning permitted?
In terms of section 39A of the Human Tissue Act 65 of 1983, genetic manipulation of gametes or zygotes outside the human body is absolutely prohibited. A zygote is the cell resulting from the fusion of two gametes; thus the fertilised ovum. Section 39A thus
prohibits human cloning
.
Is cloning morally acceptable?
| Morally acceptable Morally wrong | % % | Very 23 73 | Fairly 49 50 | Not very 64 31 |
|---|
Is human cloning acceptable?
The case for banning human reproductive cloning is not difficult to make, at least for now. Most scientists agree that it
is unsafe
and likely to lead to serious abnormalities and birth defects.
Why humans should not be cloned?
Human beings should not be cloned for several reasons that are going to be further discussed in this op-ed: cloning is a risky, imperfect procedure, it does not create an exact copy of an individual, and it poses ethical concerns by using
human beings as a means
to an end, opening up possibilities for abuse and …
Do cloned animals suffer?
Cloned animals are also likely to have
defective immune systems
and to suffer from heart failure, respiratory difficulties and muscle and joint problems. Cloning animals for food production serves only to intensify suffering for animals.
Is cloning pets unethical?
The RSPCA is appalled by the news that researchers in South Korea have cloned a dog. The society considers
it a completely unethical use of both science and animals
. A body of evidence shows that cloning frequently results in the birth of offspring with serious problems, such as tumours, pneumonia and overgrowth.
