cloning
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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?