by George Efstathiou

Created on: March 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 16, 2007

Dolly, the first cloned mammal, started an international debate on whether scientists should use this new technology to clone humans or not. Today, 10 years later, some countries prohibit human cloning, others allow therapeutic cloning, while there are scientists around the world claiming that cloned humans are already born.

277 attempts were carried out to clone Dolly, using the somatic cell nuclear transfer technique. Soon, it was announced that Dolly suffered from premature aging and arthritis. Eventually Dolly died at the age of six. Cloning of other mammals show that there is a 98% failure, while animals usually suffer from heart and lung problems, diabetes or immune system malfunctions. These data suggest that human reproductive cloning should be banned.

On the other hand, therapeutic cloning is a promising technique. It is used to produce adult stem cells, which can be differentiated into heart, liver, skin or neuron cells. That way, diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or heart diseases can be cured, as well as paralysis and skin disorders. Technological advances will allow us to produce transplants (liver, lung, kidney, vessels and skin) in the laboratory and save the lives of those who are on waiting lists. Research on cloning and stem cells will provide information on cell differentiation, proliferation and aging. New therapies will be available including cancer therapy and, why not, living longer.

Human cloning cannot be banned. Therapeutic and reproductive cloning should be differentiated. Giving birth to a cloned human being is unethical as it involves euthanasia to those babies who are born with serious abnormalities. Playing the Role of God is something we should avoid. On the contrary research on human stem cells should be carried out as it is a lot promising technique. Let's not condemn this amazing new technique for the fear of wrong usage.

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