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When my son was born, it was one of the most special times in my life. Okay, I know my wife was doing the hard work but I was there in full support and remember the experience vividly and with such fondness that it can still bring tears of joy to my eyes writing this now.

At the moment my son is running around and playing with his toys and throwing a ball for our dog. He has an infectious laugh and a cheeky grin as he dashes backwards and forwards. He doesn't sleep well but he eats as well as the rest of us and is really special. So loving and caring, very sociable and with a wicked sense of humour.

I don't know what I'd do without him so even the thought he might become ill at some point is enough to make me change the subject in my mind as quick as I can. And this is the reason I think I'd agree with some sort of cloning process if it ensured he would live and survive some horrible disease then I'd do anything to make his life more bearable or secure.

But I know Sam's so special and unique, a gift from God. Everyone who's met him can see how similar he is to my wife and me and the older he gets, the more obvious some of the similarities he has becomes.

Yet it is his uniqueness which makes him special and what means that any clone would be wrong. And so I believe in the sanctity of all life. It's not just a religious issue but one of simply being individual and special. What's the point in making clones and have two or more of the same people around? Not only would it make life dull, it's our differences which help us learn and develop when we come into contact with each other. Even identical twins and triplets are different and not simply carbon copies.

Humans must be able to do more with our intelligence than make copies of each other. Not only would it mean life would be less interesting, I think it wouldn't indicate an advance of medical knowledge but at least one step backwards in almost every area of life.

Learn more about this author, Ben Hughes.
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