Few advances in modern science have been as controversial as cloning nor as debated as the ethics of cloning. This article looks at the debate, including the idea of human cloning and the ethical issues associated with this.
By now we have all heard the debates on the ethics of cloning, and what should and should not be cloned. No matter what side of the fence you are on, the basics of cloning remain the same. In technical terms, to clone is to take an organism and replicate it.
When used in terms of biology, it is also called molecular cloning. It is this reference that raises debates with the ethics of the ability to recreate or improve lives on a most basic cellular level. By isolating sequences of DNA of an individual, multiple replications a particular sequence are made in-vitro, thus creating the concept of molecular cloning.
Perhaps the most controversial topic in science today is the idea of human cloning. Numerous attempts by those opposed have been made to stop the process of human cloning all together. While proponents argue the benefits far outweigh the ethical murkiness, it seems that the two sides will remain at opposing ends of the field. But there is also the concept of organs grown by other means separate from that of a human or living being. Through this procedure, a new organ supply could be created sans the moral repercussions of using humans.
For some, the ethical concerns are deeply rooted in religion. They believe it is extremely unethical to manipulate human life in the way of cloning to add to the betterment of science. It is not to go unnoticed however, that only certain religions are opposed to cloning and even people who do not claim a religious background are still against the idea of human cloning. Supporters of cloning attest to the benefits to human life as being a very significant reason for cloning. It seems as though this debate will continue to spark many issues far-reaching beyond the scientific world.
