Introduction
Cloning refers to the scientific multiplication and production of new cells to reproduce individuals that resemble their natural counterparts (Craig 3). It involves the duplication and modification of reproductive genes from different individuals to produce individuals that resemble their parents. This essay explores the issues raised by opponents and proponents of this scientific discovery.
Unethical Issues about Cloning
Every person deserves the right and freedom to be respected and valued as a human being. Nobody is supposed to discriminate against others because of their origin since all people are equal they were all born of a father and mother and went through the same process before they came to this world (Brown 14). However, cloning is a disrespectful scientific innovation that ignores the natural ways of raising families. In addition, it discredits the process of preproduction that involves having sexual affairs, conception, pregnancy and delivery. Cloned individuals will not have the dignity given to human beings born through natural means.
Secondly, this activity is very inhumane since it involves the destruction of fertile human cells. Human beings are not supposed to be used as specimens for laboratory activities. However, since this experiment cannot be used using other animals; as a result, scientists must look for cells from human beings. This process disrespects human value since it depicts people as specimens (Craig 7). A previous experiment conducted to clone a sheep led to the destruction of more than 270 cells. The result led to only one sheep conceiving even though there were more than ten sheep. This reveals how this process will lead to damages and unnecessary expenses.
Thirdly, natural selection places individuals at extreme ends regarding survival in the future. Natural reproduction ensures individuals produced can withstand all-natural challenges that pose serious risks to their existence (Brown 33). The cloning of Dolly did not give any future expectations and happenings that may interfere with its life. Therefore, this process is more of guesswork than a confident undertaking.
Lastly, this process transgresses societal expectations and exposes people to mechanical activities. There is no way they can rely on scientific innovations to bring up children when they have the same ability (Macintosh 121). Religious teachings regard their supreme being to be in charge of creation. When people create life this is perceived to be challenging nature; therefore, this is an antisocial activity that must be stopped.
Ethical Issues
Proponents of cloning suggest that this activity enables help, sick people, to get remedies for their complications (Mitchell 56). Cell division and multiplication has enabled doctors to perform successful organ transplants. Therefore, many lives have been saved courtesy of cloning.
Secondly, they argue that this activity will produce individuals of high quality that will be useful in various industrial activities. They will offer a cheap and reliable supply of labor (Kass 76). These proponents insist that cloning will lead to the production of individuals that are resistant to diseases, have a long lifespan and can adjust to various environmental challenges.
Lastly, they are persuaded that successful human cloning procedures will be applied in other fields like agriculture to ensure they produce quality individuals. This practice will be applied in other fields that lack quality individuals to perform various tasks.
Conclusion
Human beings deserve to live a quality life and scientific innovations are providing various ways of improving society to meet human needs. However, cloning is not an alternative to the challenges facing human beings. People are can reproduce without this scientific intervention that is coupled with serious challenges. Therefore, cloning is an unethical issue and it should be banned to avoid exposing human beings to the risks mentioned above.
Works Cited
Brown, Thomas. Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis: An Introduction. New York: Willey-Blackwell, 2010. Print.
Craig, Robin. Cloning Around: The Ethics of Human Cloning and Stem Cell Research. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2012. Print.
Kass, Leon. Human Cloning and Human Dignity: The Report of the President’s Council on Bioethics. New York: PublicAffairs, 2010. Print.
Macintosh, Kerry. Human Cloning: Four Fallacies and their Legal Consequences. Cambridge Bioethics and Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print.
Mitchell, Winnie. Cloning Terror: The War of Images, 9/11 to the Present. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011. Print.