Cloning

Cloning

The process of making a copy of something.

Making an identical copy of the DNA of an organism.

Where do you stand?

How much do you really know?

The pros:

Vital organs can be cloned= decreased waiting time, less rejection, no need for family

members to donate

Alternate solution to infertility problems

May make it possible to reproduce certain traits (bucking stock, milk production,

longhorns, beef yield, etc.)

A tool for combating certain genetic diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Replicate research animals so genetic ‘twins’ can be used in

studies (a valuable research tool)

Genetically alter plants and animals to increase

production, flowering, keep trees from going extinct etc.

Cloning endangered species may prevent them from becoming extinct or bring back

extinct species

Cloning happens frequently in nature

(i.e. asexual reproduction and

the development of twins from a single

fertilized egg)

The cons:

Hampers our genetic diversity and therefore may weaken out ability

to adapt

Makes the reproduction of

undesirable traits a probability

Technical and economic barriers.

Are the cloned organs cost effective?

Will cloning fit our ethical and moral principles?

Why clone people with our overpopulation problems and food shortages?

Very few organisms have been successfully cloned compared to the

number of attempts and those that have been have had many health problems and

none have lived out a normal life span.

There is no way of predicting what the

intelligence level and capabilities of a human

clone would be. What are the psychological and

societal implications for it as an individual? What

kind of life would it have?

But . . .

We also have no way to know the exact outcome

from a normally conceived embryo either

Animals that have been cloned:Dolly

TadpolesCarpMice

SheepRhesus Monkey

GaurCattle

CatMuleHorse

Water BuffaloCamel

For your consideration:The FDA stated that

food from cloned animals is safe to eat and does not require

special labeling

Where do you stand?