Ethical Issues on Animal and Human cloning

1. Ethical Issues on Animal and Human cloning

2. Introduction • Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical human being, human cell or human tissue.

3. Cloning • Cloning produces cells that are genetically similar to each other (have the same DNA). • This prevents an organ (or cells) made through cloning from being rejected.

4. Types of Cloning • There are two types of cloning: • Therapeutic cloning is the use of (stem) cells for medicinal or research purposes. • Reproductive cloning would be using (stem) cells to create cloned humans.

5. Two methods of cloning • Embryo cloning - remove a cell from an embryo for developing into a separate embryo. • Adult cell cloning -replace DNA/nucleus from a cell by another.

6. Two methods of cloning • Embryo cloning – do not know the characteristics of the offspring. • Adult cell cloning –characteristics are almost the same as the nucleus donor.

7. Advantages of animal cloning • Can produce animal with a desired trait, for • Protein products, organs • Proliferate endangered animals

8. Cloning Humans

9. Cloning – two kinds • Reproductive cloning – an embryo is created and implanted into a woman’s womb to bring it to term. • Therapeutic cloning – an embryo is created in order to obtain cells from it.

10. Why clone human? • Just an ‘unconventional’ means of reproduction • In vitro fertilization • Surrogate mother • Adoption

11. Why clone human? • Study human development • Produce spare parts • Test for genetic defect • Increase chance of pregnancy • Produce two children at the same time

12. Why clone human? • Preserve traits and talents • Extension of life in unusual circumstances • One spouse sterile • Homosexual marriage

13. Positive points of therapeutic cloning • Cloned embryos provide : • Brain cells for disorders like Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease • Pancreatic islet cells for diabetes

14. Positive points of therapeutic cloning • Cloned embryos provide : • Nerve cells for spinal cord damage • Blood and bone marrow cells for blood cell disorder

15. Why not perform reproductive cloning? • Eugenic – to maximize certain traits intentionally • Reduce genetic diversity • Use as substitute for organ • Clone may have reduced life expectancy • Clone may be abnormal

16. Why not perform reproductive cloning? • Lack of self-identity • Replaceable • Dominated by the ‘father’ or ‘mother’

17. Why not perform reproductive cloning? • Upset traditional family relationship • Twin of the cell donor? • Relationship with its brother and sister • Relationship with spouse of the cell donor

18. Please consider ...... • Would the views of animal and human cloning differ among people with different religious beliefs? • Is embryo a living human? • Since the use of stem cells for therapeutic cloning is still in experimental stage, would the use of cells from embryo be acceptable? • How about using the embryos left over after in vitro fertilization?

19. Please consider ...... • Is reproductive cloning a violation of natural birth? • How about the cloning of a beloved one who dies accidentally? • How about cloning for sterile couples? • Under what circumstances do you want to make a copy of yourself?

20. Is adult human DNA cloning moral? • Some talents seem to be genetically influenced. Musical ability seems to run in families. Cloning using the DNA from the cell of an adult with the desired traits or talents might produce an infant with similar potential. Yes ?

21. A heterosexual couple in which the husband was completely sterile could use adult DNA cloning to produce a child. An ovum from the woman would be coupled with a cell from the man's body. Both would contribute to the child: the woman would provide the "factory" for creating cells; the man would provide the "genetic information." They might find this more satisfactory than using the sperm of another man. Yes ?

22. Two lesbians could elect to have a child by adult DNA cloning rather than by artificial insemination by a man's sperm. Each would then contribute part of her body to the fertilized ovum: one woman would donate the ovum, which contains some genetic material in its mitochondria; the other woman the nuclear genetic material. Both would have parts of their bodies involved in the conception. They might find this more satisfactory than in-vitro fertilization using a man's sperm Yes ?

23. There is no guarantee that the first cloned humans will be normal. The fetus might suffer from some disorder that is not detectable by ultrasound. They may be born disabled. Disorders may materialize later in life. Such problems have been seen in other cloned mammals. There is no reason to assume that they will not happen in humans. No ?

24. Cells seem to have a defined life span built into them. "Dolly" was created from a cell that was about six years old; this is middle age for a ewe. There were some indications that Dolly's cells were also middle-aged. She was believed to be, in essence, about six years old when she was born. She was expected to live only for five years, which is shorter than the normal life span of 11 years. If this is also true of humans, then cloned people would have a reduced life expectancy. The cloning technique could take many years off their life. [These fears proved to be unfounded. "Dolly" has grown into a comfortable middle age with signs of normal aging for her age.] No ?

25. Dolly was conceived using a ewe's egg and a cell from another ewe's body. It is noteworthy that no semen from a ram was involved. If the technique were perfected in humans, and came into general usage, then there would be no genetic need for men. All of the human males could be allowed to die off. • [The author of this essay is a male and does not think kindly of such a future. However, some readers might not object to this eventuality.] No ?

26. Large scale cloning could deplete genetic diversity. It is diversity that drives evolution and adaptation. It prevents an entire species from disappearing because of susceptibility to a disease. • [It is doubtful that cloning would ever be used at a level to make this a significant threat.] No ?

27. Some people have expressed concern about the effects that cloning would have on relationships. For example, a child born from an adult DNA cloning from his father would be, in effect, a delayed twin of one of his parents. That has never happened before and may lead to emotional difficulties. No ?

28. More Cloning? • A third type of cloning called replacement cloning is a theoretical possibility, and would be a combination of therapeutic and reproductive cloning. • Replacement cloning would entail the replacement of an extensively damaged, failed, or failing body through cloning followed by whole or partial brain transplant. • Never been attempted… that we know of.