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Ethical problems in cloning animals and humans

Cloning is a highly controversial topic these days. Many scientists consider cloning a vital step in the advancement of medicine. And then there are many others that are opposed to cloning because of the moral ramifications.

The real reason that cloning is explored is because of the possibility of using organs from clones to give to other people that desperately need it. This idea is known to some as "organ farming". This is one of the reasons that cloning should not be explored. Humans will be created for the sole purpose of using their organs for other people who need them. This creates an "inferior race" and shows the clones as nothing more than tools for society.

If people could clone and have their offspring look exactly like them, then many would choose this instead taking a chance with a partner. This turns the miracle of creating life with a partner seem as if it were completely unnecessary. Babies can be made at will, and there will be no happy surprises when the baby is born. It will look exactly like its parent.

Perhaps the biggest reason that cloning should never be explored is because of where it may lead society. Cloning is the creating of a creature (in this case a human) through artificial means. If humans could start cloning, their clones would have the exact same DNA as the parent, which makes them look similar. As the idea of creating humans with specific traits is explored, many will get the idea that they can not only create identical looking humans, but also how they should act. The book Brave New World from Aldous Huxley is a good idea of what would happen if humans dabble too much in playing the hand of God. Eventually, people could be bred with others to create perfect traits as if they were animals.

If you were to say this in front of any advocate of cloning, then most would deny it. But if these were not the reasons for cloning, then there is no reason for it. And if you ask them their reason for cloning, then they will often give you a vague answer. The most used one is that it will be a huge advancement in medicine. But how will this help others? Their answer will probably be something like "It allows us to better understand how DNA and cells work". But there are always other ways to study cells without cloning.

Cloning should not be explored because it in no way helps the world. If there are people that need organs, then there are always donors. Or find other ways, such as somatic stem cells. If cloning is a step onto advancements in medicine, then the world is better staying ignorant.

Learn more about this author, Gary Mei.
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Ethical problems in cloning animals and humans

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