Cloning

Phyllis Richardson
Law & Ethics
The Ethical Question: To Clone or Not to Clone

Human cloning can be defined as the production of genetically identical organisms through somatic cell transfer. You take an egg and remove its nucleus, take DNA from an adult and insert into the egg either by fusing the adult cell with the unucleated egg, or by a sophisticated nuclear transfer. The egg is then stimulated electronically or chemically to make the egg divide, and become an embryo. This sort of makes the development of a child seem like it is assembled and not reproduced. There is no mentioning of the love shared between a man and woman, or intercourse- the physical sexual contact between a man and a woman. So, the question is: is it ethical to for a child to be produced via petri dish, or born naturally? I believe that cloning is unethical, because no one should have the permission to play God, there is no consent and a low survival rate with cloning, and the technology involved with cloning is not well developed.
Cloning should be considered unethical, because it gives individuals permission to play God. Giving birth is a natural phenomenon that God blesses individuals with. However, some individuals just are not blessed with this precious gift. Some will argue that both conventional conceptions and cloning are alike, because both cases involve the removal of DNA from the embryos. However, during conventional conception, the removal of DNA is a natural process that takes place during gestation. During cloning, this process is done by man and takes away the natural concept of creating a child.
Another reason I feel that cloning is unethical and a procedure that should not be used is that there is no consent and a very low success rate with cloning. Patients who participate in research for cloning are asked for consent, but who is getting consent from the offspring who will be cloned. The answer is no one! The offspring are the individuals who face the greatest...