Cloning....Why clone anyway?

cheerfulgreek · #1 06-03-2008, 12:24 PM

I posted this in the Medical Thread I started, but I thought it would be a good topic to chit chat about so I thought I would start a whole thread about it.

So what do you think? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? How far can we go with it? Given the problems associated with animal cloning, why would anyone want to do it at all?

Personally, I think it can be a good thing, if people don't over do it. I mean, apart from making human medicines, I think cloning could help boost the numbers of some endangered animal species. I think it would really be amazing to clone extinct animals. Of course doing this would be a much greater challenge than cloning endangered animals, because unfortunately the egg needed to create the cloned embryo has to be from a different species. Kind of like Jurassic Park. They used DNA from frogs to fill in the missing links in order to make dinosaurs.

I think bringing back the extinct animals would be taking things a bit too far, but I do think the good thing about cloning, is we would be able to bring back a lost pet. If it died, we could bring it back and it would more than likely have the same personality as the original. I know this wouldn't be true for all cloned animals though.

nittanyalum · #2 06-03-2008, 01:26 PM

KSUViolet06 · #3 06-03-2008, 01:30 PM

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.

AOII Angel · #4 06-03-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

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.

The plans for cloning organs do not include cloning an entire human to give up those organs. Your thinking of people "cloning" a new child to give bone marrow to their first sick child. That does happen and does open a big can of worms with regard to the new child's right not to be a bone marrow farm for their sibling.

nate2512 · #5 06-03-2008, 02:38 PM

DSTCHAOS · #6 06-03-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The plans for cloning organs do not include cloning an entire human to give up those organs. Your thinking of people "cloning" a new child to give bone marrow to their first sick child. That does happen and does open a big can of worms with regard to the new child's right not to be a bone marrow farm for their sibling.

That's scary.

cheerfulgreek · #7 06-03-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

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 · #8 06-03-2008, 06:14 PM

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 · #9 06-03-2008, 06:18 PM

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 · #10 06-03-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

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."

epchick · #11 06-03-2008, 01:31 PM

#12 06-03-2008, 01:30 PM

I don't know about bring back extinct or endangered species, but I do think that cloning can serve a valuable purpose. I'd like to see cloning done specifically for the cloning of organs to serve those that need transplants. You can either clone their healthy organ or a healthy organ from another person that would be a donor match. I think if we get to the point that we can clone a healthy kidney for an individiual in need, or (and I don't know the feasibility of this) a healthy brainstem or spinal nerves for an individual that had injuried them, than we'd be well served to explore those options.

Kitso
KS 361

cheerfulgreek · #13 06-03-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wreckingcrew

I don't know about bring back extinct or endangered species, but I do think that cloning can serve a valuable purpose. I'd like to see cloning done specifically for the cloning of organs to serve those that need transplants. You can either clone their healthy organ or a healthy organ from another person that would be a donor match. I think if we get to the point that we can clone a healthy kidney for an individiual in need, or (and I don't know the feasibility of this) a healthy brainstem or spinal nerves for an individual that had injuried them, than we'd be well served to explore those options.

Kitso
KS 361

I couldn't agree with this post more. The only thing though is wouldn't we have to clone a human being in order to get the body parts 1st? That's the scary part if I'm thinking correctly. AKA_Monet and BigRedBeta where are you when I need you?

RaggedyAnn · #14 06-04-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I couldn't agree with this post more. The only thing though is wouldn't we have to clone a human being in order to get the body parts 1st? That's the scary part if I'm thinking correctly. AKA_Monet and BigRedBeta where are you when I need you?

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AKA_Monet · #15 06-04-2008, 06:30 AM

I'm so lost in this discussion

Cheerful do you need to write a paper or something in Ethics?

Human genes are being cloned everyday AND on a computer chip... Now, that technology, wow. If I had money back in 1994 when Affymetrix started!!!

We can grow organoids in petri plates. We do it with stem cells all the time. Well, depending on how your look at it, the US cannot use Human Embryonic Stems so we scientists are WAAAY behind on that research curve. While Singapore and North Korean gives us bogus data on that subject...

The issue with providing correctional "parts" to damaged tissues is the honing to the area. It's easiest with skin. It's harder with nerves. And add a chronic illness into the mix, like cancer or heart failure, good luck...

And NONE of these studies are being done in the US anymore! So, don't get cancer unless your Senator Kennedy, or lose a limb, or have heart failure because, welp, you are NOT going to be saved with our current healthcare system.

I'd say the US is now 5 years behind other 1st world countries research...