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Human Cloning
Human Cloning
Two commonly discussed types of human cloning are therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning.
Therapeutic cloning would involve cloning cells from a human for use in medicine and transplants. It is an active
area of research, but is not in medical practice anywhere in the world, as of 2023. Two common methods of
therapeutic cloning that are being researched are somatic-cell nuclear transfer and (more recently) pluripotent stem
cell induction.
Reproductive cloning would involve making an entire cloned human, instead of just specific cells or tissues.
Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning
THERAPEUTİC CLONİNG
Therapeutic cloning involves creating a cloned embryo for the sole purpose of producing embryonic stem cells with
the same DNA as the donor cell. These stem cells can be used in experiments aimed at understanding disease and
developing new treatments for disease. To date, there is no evidence that human embryos have been produced for
therapeutic cloning.
The richest source of embryonic stem cells is tissue formed during the first five days after the egg has started to
divide. At this stage of development, called the blastocyst, the embryo consists of a cluster of about 100 cells that can
become any cell type. Stem cells are harvested from cloned embryos at this stage of development, resulting in
destruction of the embryo while it is still in the test tube.
SOURCES : https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Cloning-Fact-Sheet#:~:text=Therapeutic
%20cloning%20involves%20creating%20a,developing%20new%20treatments%20for%20disease.
REPRODUCTİVE CLONİNG
Reproductive Cloning
Reproductive cloning is a method used to make a clone or an identical copy of an entire multicellular organism. Most multicellular organisms undergo
reproduction by sexual means, which involves genetic hybridization of two individuals (parents), making it impossible to generate an identical copy or
clone of either parent. Recent advances in biotechnology have made it possible to artificially induce asexual reproduction of mammals in the
laboratory.
Parthenogenesis, or “virgin birth,” occurs when an embryo grows and develops without the fertilization of the egg occurring; this is a form of asexual
reproduction. An example of parthenogenesis occurs in species in which the female lays an egg. If the egg is fertilized, it is a diploid egg and the
individual develops into a female; if the egg is not fertilized, it remains a haploid egg and develops into a male. The unfertilized egg is called a
parthenogenic, or virgin, egg. Some insects and reptiles lay parthenogenic eggs that can develop into adults.
Sexual reproduction requires two cells; when the haploid egg and sperm cells fuse, a diploid zygote results. The zygote nucleus contains the genetic
information to produce a new individual. However, early embryonic development requires the cytoplasmic material contained in the egg cell. This
idea forms the basis for reproductive cloning. If the haploid nucleus of an egg cell is replaced with a diploid nucleus from the cell of any individual of
the same species (called a donor), it will become a zygote that is genetically identical to the donor. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is the technique of
transferring a diploid nucleus into an enucleated egg. It can be used for either therapeutic cloning or reproductive cloning.
The first cloned animal was Dolly, a sheep who was born in 1996. The success rate of reproductive cloning at the time was very low. Dolly lived for
seven years and died of respiratory complications. There is speculation that because the cell DNA belongs to an older individual, the age of the DNA
may affect the life expectancy of a cloned individual. Since Dolly, several animals (e.g. horses, bulls, and goats) have been successfully cloned,
although these individuals often exhibit facial, limb, and cardiac abnormalities. There have been attempts at producing cloned human embryos as
sources of embryonic stem cells. Sometimes referred to as cloning for therapeutic purposes, the technique produces stem cells that attempt to
remedy detrimental diseases or defects (unlike reproductive cloning, which aims to reproduce an organism). Still, therapeutic cloning efforts have
met with resistance because of bioethical considerations.
SOURCES : https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/
ADVANTAGES OF CLONING
1. Not reliable
According to many scientists, cloning has not yet reached a point where it can be effectively applied to help preserve species. In fact, some scientists do not even accept cloning because it ignores the primary causes of extinction in the initial place,
which are habitat degradation and hunting.
Additionally, critics claim that although cloning could be useful in emergency situations, the methods now in use to accomplish these objectives are regarded as insufficient to have any meaningful impact. Cloning vulnerable species is thought to be
much more difficult than doing it with domesticated organisms (like cattle), and it would likely take years (or perhaps decades) to complete. Numerous attempts to bring back extinct and endangered animals have failed for a variety of reasons. Still,
they have always shared one significant flaw that they were not exact clones of their claimed relatives.
2. Eliminates genetic diversity
Human life heavily depends on the variety of genes that result from having parents with various genetic traits. The fact that identical genes would limit our ability to adapt and battle against disease is a significant drawback of them. Moreover, we must
never forget that cloning destroys the uniqueness that makes people beautiful. In addition, it would anticipate expectations and eliminate surprises.
3. High level of uncertainty
Every scientific progress has some positive aspects as well as equally negative ones. Cloning has many unexplored consequences and impacts. There is no reliable way to predict the potential psychological, social, and medical effects because it is a
new field of study that is still being explored. The more successful something is, the more difficult it will be to control the problem. Human gene manipulation will have unexpected and uncontrollable effects that may affect our lives.
Moreover, there is still research and analysis needed before starting anything as absurd as human cloning. It might put the entire human race at risk. Cloned individuals may, at very minimum, experience serious health issues at some phase of their life.
We may safely assume that the process will be a very big barrier to start with, given the issues that presently exist with animal cloning.
4. Not at all a safe process
Clones will not have the same behavioural traits despite both having the same genetic structure. Apart from that, there is no guarantee of their physical similarity. It is significant to remember that these traits are not solely determined by genetic
structure. Naturally, there is a very strong probability that a pair of clones would experience different habitats and nutritional burdens, establishing unique modifications and contributions to each.
Cell mutation is one of the genuine risks associated with cloning, and it has been linked to the emergence of new, more severe genetic illnesses in people. In fact, a lot of people think that this kind of thing will bring civilization to an end. Even if the
process utilizes the recipient's organ's cells, cloning can still result in cell mutation, as already mentioned. This may cause the cell structure of the original and reproduced organs to differ significantly.
5. Cloning is unethical
The ethical issues with cloning are one of the most persuasive arguments against it. Critics claim that even the simple act of producing clones involves the exploitation of life, apart from the idea of controlling living organisms.
Consider the case; before a successful clone of Dolly the sheep could be developed, more than 277 efforts had been made. This only implies that multiple "failed" attempts would be required if people were to be cloned. As a result, critics strongly
believe that human cloning would be unethical until these issues are fully understood and settled.
6. It can easily be misused
Since there is always a chance that cloning technology will be misused, researchers should make every effort to keep it under constant observation. The truth is that there is always someone looking to take advantage of such technology, and many
believe that the only way to avoid this situation is to not even consider cloning.
7. It may promote discrimination
Discrimination and prejudice are definitely present in today's world, whether it is because of racial, linguistic, or social differences. Ultimately, cloned persons would feel less "human" than some other humans who are not the products of cloning.
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