THIS IS A SAMPLE ESSAY ON CLONING. YOU MUST USE AN ESSAY TOPIC FROM MY APPROVED LIST! The Myths and Reality of Human Cloning: What is Cloning?
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What is cloning?And are there different types of cloning? The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity. The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the original, is referred to as a clone. There are three different types of artificial cloning: gene cloning, reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Gene cloning produces copies of genes or segments of DNA. Reproductive cloning produces copies of whole animals. Therapeutic cloning produces embryonic stem cells for experiments aimed at creating tissues to replace injured or diseased tissues.
Gene cloning, also known as DNA cloning, is a very different process from reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive and therapeutic cloning share many of the same techniques, but are done for different purposes.Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of an existing, or previously existing, human being or growing cloned tissue from that individual.
According to gene biologist, Dr. Sara Harris, "Gene cloning is a carefully regulated technique that is largely accepted today and used routinely in many labs worldwide" (Dawson 2). However, both reproductive and therapeutic cloning raise important ethical issues, especially as related to the potential use of these techniques in humans. For example, Rev. Stevens stated, "It is unnatural to play God and the Catholic church is in absolute disagreement with the field of science concerning cloning" (Fredrick 12). It remains unclear as to how one could ever close the gap between science and religion concerning the issue of cloning.
Reproductive cloning would present the potential of creating a human that is genetically identical to another person who has previously existed or who still exists. This may conflict with long-standing religious and societal values about human dignity, possibly infringing upon principles of individual freedom, identity and autonomy. However, some argue that reproductive cloning could help sterile couples fulfill their dream of parenthood. For example, Dr. Eric Foster stated, "Many scientists long for the day when parents can be assisted in hopeless cases of barrenness" (Gibbons 4). Others see human cloning as a way to avoid passing on a deleterious gene that runs in the family without having to undergo embryo screening or embryo selection.
Therapeutic cloning, while offering the potential for treating humans suffering from disease or injury, would require the destruction of human embryos in the test tube. Consequently, opponents argue that using this technique to collect embryonic stem cells is wrong, regardless of whether such cells are used to benefit sick or injured people.
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