The Human Cloning Conundrum.The birth of Dolly, the cloned lamb, in 1997 opened the doors for a heated debate on human cloning Although genes are recognized as influencing behavior and cognition, "genetically identical" does not mean altogether identical; identical twins, despite being natural human clones with near identical DNA, are separate people, with separate experiences and not altogether . Since then, cloning cloning: see clone. To make a product that functions like another. See clone. See also cloning software. has been performed on hundreds of mice, cows, goats and pigs. However, nearly all of those efforts have resulted to some degree in a wide range of defects -- from gross deformities to increased susceptibility susceptibility the state of being susceptible. Refers usually to infectious disease but may be to physical factors such as wetting or to psychological factors such as harassment. to disease. Though cloning a human with today's technology would be remarkably expensive, the issue of cost pales when placed next to the basic questions of morality. Last week, the House of Representatives held a hearing on the issue of whether or not to ban human cloning. This after a week of lobbying campaigns in which several established and well-funded scientists participated. So the Business Journal asks: How do you feel about human cloning? Stephen O'Connor President & CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Nanostream Inc. My personal opinion is that there are lots of technologies being developed in academic and private settings. These technologies can usually benefit the human race, but they're being shot down by popular opinion because of unrealistic fears. It would be a very, very, very long time before the human cloning efforts would be able to produce walking humans like you and me. That's not the purpose of the experiments. The purpose is to learn about genetics and development. The point (of the experiments) is to move basic research forward for the benefit of humanity. And this effort is being shot down because of unrealistic fears that are more science fiction than reality. Chandresh Asher Vice President, Sales & Marketing Ondax Inc. Well, ethically, I think it would be wrong to clone clone, group of organisms, all of which are descended from a single individual through asexual reproduction, as in a pure cell culture of bacteria. Except for changes in the hereditary material that come about by mutation, all members of a clone are genetically a human being. Particularly because cloning is not 100 percent repeatable, meaning every time you clone somebody you would always lose a portion of the initial person. It could help with people who need organs, but I think they need to do a lot more research. J.P. Morgan IT Coordinator Neogent Inc. The easy answer for me is that yes, it should be allowed, but that there should be stringent guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. . There are a lot of ethical and moral issues that need to be addressed. I guess what we have to do is determine what constitutes an individual. If someone is cloned for organs, for instance, is that a life? Does it have the same rights as an individual, does it have any rights? So if they just clone organs and stuff, fine. But if they attempt to clone full humans, I want to know what it's going to be used for. We should do it for research, but we have to look at the implications of having cloned humans running around. We have to know what rights they're going to have. Gary Kaplan President & CEO Gary Kaplan & Associates I fundamentally am opposed to human cloning, but not on religious grounds. I just believe there are certain aspects of human dynamics and nature that should not be tampered with. To me, there's an aspect of cloning that feels like science fiction, and I have concerns that cloning technology in the wrong hands could wind up with evil applications, as opposed to humane humane pertaining to the avoidance of infliction of pain, discomfort and harassment; used especially with regard to animals. humane considerations and positive ones. Ron Rawson Director of Business Development Wilkin Design Group I don't think it's right. I don't like the idea of experimenting with something when we don't really know what we're trying to create or what the results will be. Meredith Dubin Publicist pub·li·cist n. One who publicizes, especially a press or publicity agent. publicist Noun a person, such as a press agent or journalist, who publicizes something publicist The Rose Group My feelings are that it should be banned. I mean, as far as science goes, it's probably not perfected, so it seems dangerous, not to mention unethical unethical said of conduct not conforming with professional ethics. , immoral and, well, it's kind of spooky spook·y adj. spook·i·er, spook·i·est Informal 1. Suggestive of ghosts or a ghost; eerie. 2. Easily startled; skittish. . I saw something about it on the news this morning, and it kind of sent a chill down my spine. It just doesn't seem like part of the natural cycle of life and death. |
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