Cloning

[Exile]

Cloning: Is it ethical in general? Is human cloning ethical?

Explain and support your position.

+ X =

[iron molly black]

Cloning: Is it ethical in general? Is human cloning ethical?

Explain and support your position.

+ X =

Oh sure. As long as they are all attractive and male, and are willing to be my CHEW TOYZ!

Seriously...

They already clone pets. But apparently, they don't have the same personality as the previous pet--nature/nurture and all that. I think it's creepy.

People--creepier. There is a lot of potential for people to do unethical things with it. There are already people out there who have children to be donors for a child they have who needs marrow or an organ, that's bad enough. Rich people growing a clone for "spare parts"? People who lose a child or family member trying to replace them with a clone? Uh, not so much. Hmmm, maybe I should go write a good science fiction novel.

[liquidglass]

Well due to the research I've done on the subject cloning isn't such a bad thing. Think about it, yes they are genetically manipulating a child before it's born, but he/she is a completely brand new person, legally, morally, mentally, etc separate from the person they're copied from.


We won't say "grow someone for spare parts" but what if you had a brother/sister that could help doctors make antidotes specific to your genetic code, and you could do the same for them.

One of you needs a kidney, you've got a perfect match.

You need a bone marrow transplant. Boom perfect match.


the possibilities are endless.

Now if you could step into a machine and have a duplicate step out, that would be a different story.



Speaking from a religious point of view cloning is almost identical to in vitro fertilization. You're not "creating life" you're just manipulating the genetic code which we're already looking into.


But just my two cents.

[Exile]

Valid points gentlemen.

Who knows for sure what the future holds. If cloning is the future of human existence, I say its worth the ethical sacrifice. But I do agree it is very creepy. I believe the cloning process could all too easily become inhumane. Its a tricky subject, but I'd love to hear some more discussion about it.

[iron molly black]

Well due to the research I've done on the subject cloning isn't such a bad thing. Think about it, yes they are genetically manipulating a child before it's born, but he/she is a completely brand new person, legally, morally, mentally, etc separate from the person they're copied from.


We won't say "grow someone for spare parts" but what if you had a brother/sister that could help doctors make antidotes specific to your genetic code, and you could do the same for them.

One of you needs a kidney, you've got a perfect match.

You need a bone marrow transplant. Boom perfect match.


the possibilities are endless.

Now if you could step into a machine and have a duplicate step out, that would be a different story.



Speaking from a religious point of view cloning is almost identical to in vitro fertilization. You're not "creating life" you're just manipulating the genetic code which we're already looking into.


But just my two cents.

OK, the problem I have with this, is if you need a bone marrow transplant, or a kidney transplant, they are working on ways to grow just bone marrow, or just a kidney, that is your genetic match, and not a whole person, and I am fine with THAT. And I don't agree that cloning is identical to in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization does not create an identical version of someone, it just helps the natural process along. I am not fine with purposefully creating a living, breathing, thinking, PERSON with the exact same genetic code as someone else. And yes, I realize that it happens, with identical twins, in nature.

I think it would just lead to crazy bad things. Would parents start picking which one they'd want their child to be a carbon copy of? Or would they pick someone else? Would genetic diversity go out the window? What other consequences are there of using only one set of genetic material? How many "copies" can you make before things break down? Scary, creepy stuff, still.

[Winter]

I think the most ethical and safe path for "cloning" is somehow creating more stem-cells without having to destroy fetuses. For those that don't know, stem cells can be taken and they can virtually grow into any organ or body part that you desire. There are already various ways of acquiring stem cells: taking the umbilical cord of the baby and taking the stem cells from that, taking stem cells from a woman's amniotic fluid, etc.

As for human cloning, I don't think that's ethical. If parents are able to clone their children and potentially choose the child's personality, hair color, height, etc, that would make the world one messed up place. There would be much less diversity and everyone would be just as intelligent, good looking and athletic as everyone else... The standards for job places, schools, sports, etc would all be completely gone because everyone would be the same. And the answer the question about how to get a new kidney, heart, or whatever for a family member can be answered by using stem cells.

[Exile]

Assuming genetics technology continues to advance at the same rate as it has been- do you think genetic manipulation is a threat to the integrity of mankind?

[Codename067]

Assuming genetics technology continues to advance at the same rate as it has been- do you think genetic manipulation is a threat to the integrity of mankind?

Everything, beyond their limits, could be considered a threat. So yes, to a certain extent, it will become a threat.


Regarding the main question..I fully support Cloning..only when it is used for the right cause. It can do more good than bad...then again, we all know its going to get abused.

[liquidglass]

Well due to the research I've done on the subject cloning isn't such a bad thing. Think about it, yes they are genetically manipulating a child before it's born, but he/she is a completely brand new person, legally, morally, mentally, etc separate from the person they're copied from.


We won't say "grow someone for spare parts" but what if you had a brother/sister that could help doctors make antidotes specific to your genetic code, and you could do the same for them.

One of you needs a kidney, you've got a perfect match.

You need a bone marrow transplant. Boom perfect match.


the possibilities are endless.

Now if you could step into a machine and have a duplicate step out, that would be a different story.



Speaking from a religious point of view cloning is almost identical to in vitro fertilization. You're not "creating life" you're just manipulating the genetic code which we're already looking into.


But just my two cents.

OK, the problem I have with this, is if you need a bone marrow transplant, or a kidney transplant, they are working on ways to grow just bone marrow, or just a kidney, that is your genetic match, and not a whole person, and I am fine with THAT. And I don't agree that cloning is identical to in vitro fertilization. In vitro fertilization does not create an identical version of someone, it just helps the natural process along. I am not fine with purposefully creating a living, breathing, thinking, PERSON with the exact same genetic code as someone else. And yes, I realize that it happens, with identical twins, in nature.

I think it would just lead to crazy bad things. Would parents start picking which one they'd want their child to be a carbon copy of? Or would they pick someone else? Would genetic diversity go out the window? What other consequences are there of using only one set of genetic material? How many "copies" can you make before things break down? Scary, creepy stuff, still.

So you're ok with cloning parts of humans but not enough parts that would make up a whole?


It IS very close to invitro. I said "almost" identical not "exact" so don't put those words in my mouth. But it is. They already have "test tube" babies. It's the same thing except for one little difference, the genetic code has been altered. Which is what they're already attempting and planning on doing so your child can be athletic, have blue eyes etc. Genetic code isn't about appearance as much as it is about what goes on inside your body.
All children are, are mixtures of their parents genetic code. Which is essentially copying their genetic code and running it through a paint mixer. So it gets a good mix.




I do agree with everyone else, it's a good thing, to an extent. Edited June 6, 2008 by liquidglass