Cloning....Why clone anyway?

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Cloning opens up a big can of worms. For example, what rights would humans cloned for body parts have in relation to the rest of the population? How wouyld clonning be regulated, etc.

It could if people started taking it too far. At the moment, human reproductive cloning is banned in most countries that have any policy at all on the matter. I do think it's increasingly considered that any comprehensive ban on cloning restricts freedom, well..reproductive freedom I should say. The question I have is, isn't this considered to be kind of like a newly defined right, as far as human rights go?

I also think if it's regulated correctly, it would allow some couples to have children without risking passing on a genetic disorder carried by one parent. With what wreckingcrew said, I agree because it might appeal to some who hoped to have a new child who would be a compatible transplant donor for an older sibling who may need an organ. I know this is nuts, but I think if it's regulated the right way, it would theoretically allow parents to have another child with the same genetic make up as one who may have died prematurely. I mean, I understand that the child could never be a replacement, and the parents might would do better to just have another child the normal way. But at the same time, it doesn't necessarily mean that they couldn't take satisfaction from a cloned baby.

[AGDee]

Now you're talking about genetic engineering in addition to cloning. See the movie Gattaca to see the dangers of genetic engineering. There are, however, experts who predict we could live to be 1000 if they were cloning our organs. Every 40 or 50 years, you could just replace your parts, like we do on a car and you'd just keep going. Personally? I foresee even more problems with this idea like over population, quality of life/lifestyle, expense, etc. Personally, I think that having to work 50 years of my life is more than enough work for me. If I lived to be 1000, I'd probably have to work for 980 years of my life. No thanks!

[ree-Xi]

In terms of cloning PEOPLE for organs (a la "The Island), I think that is taking things too far. Unless we are talking cloning Ewan McGregor (a la "The Island"); I can make a case for that.

But creating new organs for the same person? On the surface, I can see that.

As far as living 1000 years, imagine how densely populated this place would be. I will settle for living a healthy full life, and going in my sleep.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Now you're talking about genetic engineering in addition to cloning. See the movie Gattaca to see the dangers of genetic engineering. There are, however, experts who predict we could live to be 1000 if they were cloning our organs. Every 40 or 50 years, you could just replace your parts, like we do on a car and you'd just keep going. Personally? I foresee even more problems with this idea like over population, quality of life/lifestyle, expense, etc. Personally, I think that having to work 50 years of my life is more than enough work for me. If I lived to be 1000, I'd probably have to work for 980 years of my life. No thanks!

I haven't seen Gattaca before. Is it about extending human life? If it is, I'll rent it tonight. I agree with cloning to replace organs, but at the same time when we start living this long I think it starts getting into the "Playing God role."

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I haven't seen Gattaca before. Is it about extending human life? If it is, I'll rent it tonight. I agree with cloning to replace organs, but at the same time when we start living this long I think it starts getting into the "Playing God role."

It's about a society where people are being genetically engineered and the genetically engineered people are considered far superior to "naturals". The "naturals" essentially become like untouchables but one is trying to pass as a genetically engineered person because he wants to be an astronaut and only the genetically engineered people get to join the space program. It's fascinating and scary...

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It's about a society where people are being genetically engineered and the genetically engineered people are considered far superior to "naturals". The "naturals" essentially become like untouchables but one is trying to pass as a genetically engineered person because he wants to be an astronaut and only the genetically engineered people get to join the space program. It's fascinating and scary...

Thanks! I'm renting this today. After I watch it, I'll let you know.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It's about a society where people are being genetically engineered and the genetically engineered people are considered far superior to "naturals". The "naturals" essentially become like untouchables but one is trying to pass as a genetically engineered person because he wants to be an astronaut and only the genetically engineered people get to join the space program. It's fascinating and scary...

I watched it last night. I really enjoyed it. I'll have to buy this one so I can watch it again. At the beginning though, it quoted a book from the bible. I think it was the book of Ecclesiates as I can remember. I wasn't wearing my glasses so it was hard to see. After that, there was another quote from some guy. I can't remember exactly what it said, but something to the fact of God not wanting these genetic changes, all the way to Mother Nature wanting us to change human life or something like that. I mentioned something about this in another thread in regards to evolution. Some people think the earth is only 50,000 years old because a 4.5 billion year old earth doesn't match the bible. Well, neither do dinosaurs, but they were here at one time. That's a fact not a theory. The way I see it is, I look to my religious tradition in regards to a moral life. Neither science nor faith contradict the other. I think if someone appreciates the essence of each, they can enrich each other in a person's life. I think science and faith should exist in separate realms. The reason why is because science uses logic and experimental methods to measure and describe the material world. We also have to recognize the fact that science yields knowledge about the workings of molecules, machines, mitosis, physics, momentum ect ect. I always hear people say that we're trying to play God, kind of what the movie presented. Yes, if things go too far. I mean c'mon, think about it, science has no moral valence. The way I see it, it's neutral. DNA technology can make a cure for cancer or produce a weapon of bioterrorism lol lol. Seriously, I think it's only a person's application of science that takes on a moral dimension. I think an aetheist creates his or her own moral precepts in the absence of God. A believer such as myself, looks to religious texts for guidance in what's right and what's wrong. This is why I don't think the bible and science need to be compared. I wasn't a big fan of those quotes being used together in the movie.

I thought the movie was awesome, and knowing me I'll watch it again and again. I was laughing so hard at the part when they were kids. The part when they were spacing out the planets in scaled distances from the sun. That part reminded me of when I was like 10 or 11, I bought a ton of the glow in the dark stars and planets and placed them on my ceiling. I scaled the planets the way they would appear if they were the same distance from the sun on my ceiling in my room rather than in space. I even made an astroid belt between Mars and Jupiter just like they did in the movie. I remember buying so many of those glow in the dark packets that when I would turn off the light for bed time, I could actually see everything in my room, it was that bright in there. The glowing never lost it's glow. It was so much of it, that it used itself as a light source.

Great movie though. Thanks for that AGDee.