The Moral Implications of Cloning - 2012 Words

Outside the lab where the cloning had actually taken place, most of us thought it could never happen. Oh we would say that perhaps at some point in the distant future, cloning might become feasible through the use of sophisticated biotechnologies far beyond those available to us now. But what we really believed, deep in our hearts, was that this one biological feat we could never master. Dr. Lee M. Silver, 1997. On February 23, 1997, Doctor Ian Wilmut successfully cloned the worlds first mammal, giving the world a harsh wake-up call to the state of its technology. The implications of an effective somatic cell nuclear transfer in mammals are tremendous. The use of cloning for research purposes could yield fixes for aging and heart†¦show more content†¦Dr. Ian Wilmut, the cloning doctor himself, says that even the though of human cloning is appallingly irresponsible and that there is a major safety issue which should justify the banning of this technology to produce peop le for the foreseeable future (Ian). The religious community, as expected, has strong objections towards this particular, as well as many other scientific advances. In this case, a strong warning came to scientists everywhere against playing God. Generally speaking, playing God would violate one or both of the following distinctions between man and God: human beings should not gain access to the fundamental secrets and mysteries of life which belong to God; and human beings lack the authority to regulate the beginning and/or end of life as such reservations are divine sovereignty (United, 44). To ponder the first violation, one must view scientific research as a sort of probing into lifes mysteries. Scientists have discovered how the heart beast, why the sun is bright, and when a flower will bloom, all of which were mysteries before their discovery. At this point, it is imperative to assess what mysteries of life should be forbidden to human knowledge. Certainly, one must no t view why the sun is bright as a mystery. Therefore, how can one inhibit the knowledge of how life begins, how cells differentiate, or how to create life? Without the word of God, how can something, whether it be anShow MoreRelatedMoral, Social, And Ethical Implications Of Cloning2179 Words   |  9 PagesMoral, Social, and Ethical Implications of Cloning â€Å"Clones are organisms that are exact genetic copies. Every single bit of their DNA is identical. Clones can happen naturally—identical twins are just one of many examples. Or they can be made in the lab. Natural identical twins are similar to and different from clones made through modern cloning technologies.† (Genetic Science Learning Center) Cloning has many different aspects; there is the moral, social and ethical aspects of cloning. Along withRead MoreWhen Life Begins638 Words   |  3 Pagesalways consider an embryo to be a living thing. It is currently a hot topic of discussion whether or not to allow and use stem cells taken from embryos. The fact that cells must come from women also raises ethical questions concerning therapeutic cloning as this can lead to the exploitation of women. Many people also believe that such technology is unnatural and similar to taking nature in your own hand. Creating clones for the production of transplantable organs is anothe r issue. People believe thatRead MoreHow Technology Is Causing The Decline Of Morality1158 Words   |  5 PagesEvery year, machines and the technology that builds them are advancing at an irreversible rate that we cannot control. It is speculated that we will reach singularity during the 21st century, and with advances like cloning, society’s morality begins to be questioned. The film Blade Runner and short story â€Å"Margin of Error† bring up questions of morality related to technology, and I will use these works as reference to strengthen my arguments. The continuous evolution of technology is causing the declineRead MoreGenetic Engineering : Medical Perfection Or Playing God1280 Words   |  6 PagesThesis Statement â€Å"Genetic engineering differs from cloning in key ways. Whereas cloning produces genetically exact copies of organisms, genetic engineering refers to processes in which scientists manipulate genes to create purposefully different versions of organisms—and, in some cases, entirely new living things†, duplication of genetic cells is known as human cloning. Development of genetic engineering biotechnologies undermines the natural autonomy of life. Does genetic engineering interfereRead MoreEssay The Debate Concerning Stem Cell Research1409 Words   |  6 Pagesto better the lives of those living, but at what cost? In their articles â€Å"Cloning Human Beings: An Assessment of Pro and Con,† by author Dan W. Brock; â€Å"The Ethical Implications of Guman Cloning,† by Michael J. Sandel; â€Å"Theriputic Human Cloning Is Ethical,† by Ian Wilmut and Roger Highfield; and various other articles, each author discusses his or her view on the morality of stem cell research and its use for human cloning. Kantian deontology is defined as treating the individual as more than a meansRead MoreEssay on The Cloning Controversy1271 Words   |  6 Pages Today, the topic of cloning generates more argument then it has ever created before. The controversy over cloning is based, in part, on the fact that there are extreme opposing viewpoints on the subject. Also a major factor in the debate over cloning is a fear of new technology. Throughout history, man has always been slow to adapt to a new technology, or a new way of doing things. We go through all the trouble to adapt to one method, why uproot ourselves and change everything just to do it a differentRead More Is Human Cloning Another Frankenstein? Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pages Is Human Cloning Another Frankenstein? nbsp; The creation of life by unnatural method is a question that Mary Shelleys Frankenstein addresses. Through the events that result from Victors attempt to bestow life to the inanimate, Shelley concludes that it is inappropriate for man to play god. With the advent of the science of creation, cloning, scientists now face the same problem that Shelley raised years ago. The applications of such research are numerous, all varying in severity. In whatRead MoreEthical Implications in the Fields of Science and Arts Essay1462 Words   |  6 PagesThe knowledge question is asking to identify and discuss ethical implications that might interfere with the production of knowledge in the field of natural sciences and arts. Ethics is defined as the moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behaviors and actions towards a certain subject. Ethical implications are the problems that a certain action would have on ethics. This particular essay title tackles the areas of knowledge of natural sciences and arts and ethics. Many knowledge issuesRead More Immorality of Human Cloning Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages While human cloning has been a matter of science fiction for centuries, the prospect that it could actually happen is a recent development. On February 23, 1997, the birth of the first cloned sheep, Dolly, was announced. Since then, it seems that science has progressed faster than moral understanding. Each breakthrough in genetics presents us with both a promise and a dilemma. The promise is that we may soon be able to treat and prevent diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s. The dilemma is thatRead MoreThe Cloning Of The Sheep990 Words   |  4 PagesThe successful cloning of â€Å"Dolly† the sheep caused a worldwide reaction. Many arguments as to whether it is morally acceptable to clone a human being have taken place, resulting in human cloning being legal in some countries while illegal in others. There are two forms of cloning, re productive and therapeutic. In Britain therapeutic cloning is legal, if you have a license, whereas reproductive cloning is illegal. 41% of Americans are against cloning in general and 87% are against producing a child