Analytical Research Paper Example

“Is the cloning of humans ethically correct,” is a question that many Americans have been forced to consider this past decade. Today there has been uproar as to whether such research and development should be allowed. Cloning is the production of an exact genetic replica of a living organism (Dudley, 9). On February 23, 1997 Scottish scientists defied the laws of nature when they announced that they had used the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer to clone an adult sheep (Cloning, 5/14/02). Although the possibility of cloning a human being is considered to be a huge scientific breakthrough it is immoral and unethical for such procedures to be allowed.

The first question to consider “ Is it against God’s Will to produce human asexually.” Not all procedures are successful and those that are not are aborted which is well against God’s will. When the sheep was cloned there were 277 cell fusions, only 29 began to grow and were implanted and of those only 13 sheep became pregnant and yet only one successful sheep was created (Cloning, 5/14/02).   Technically 276 embryos died in this process, that is rather devastating especially if humans were concerned.   Further the Bible clearly states that a child should be born to a woman. Psalms 127:3-5 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward” (Cloning, 5/14/02). It also states that a child should be born to husband and his wife and technically through cloning a child will have no family.

The President, Bill Clinton himself discouraged the power to “play God” and later issued a 90 day moratorium against the use of government funds for research and development of human cloning (Dudley, 10). Polls taken in February 1997 revealed that 88% of Americans thought that human cloning was immoral and 74% indicated that cloning was “against God’s Will” (Dudley, 10).

One may argue that the church and government are clearly separate and is even stated in the constitution, therefore should not be considered a justifiable reason to ban human cloning. However, the acknowledgement of God throughout the majority of Americans has also been clearly established. On our own government currency and in every courtroom we can see the words printed “In God We Trust.” In every court case throughout our government anyone who testifies on the stand must swear on the Bible. We are not an atheist country and therefore the word of God should be considered in any movements such as this. On March 14, 1997 the National Bioethics Advisory Commission held another hearing at the Watergate Hotel involving representatives of many different religions and their concerns regarding the issues of cloning (American, 5/13/02) . Although our religions may differ greatly it was discovered that the general regard towards cloning humans was against the procedure.

The majority of the leaders of our country cannot find a valid reason to encourage asexual reproduction. In March of 1997 a hearing was called during which several scientists were called upon to present their own opinions concerning the matter. Among them, Ian Wilmut, the scientist who led the team that cloned the sheep, Dolly, stated that he had never heard of an acceptable reason for cloning a human (Dudely, 10).

On October 4, 1996 there was a National Bioethics Advisory Commission hearing held regarding the NBAC’s point of views of cloning (American). Two bills were introduced in 1997 to ban federal funding for research on human cloning and the other to mandate a $5,000 fine on anyone conducting such research (Dudely, 10).   Senator Christopher Bond stated, “there are aspects of human life that should be off limits to science” (Dudely, 10).

Of course the main concern is the safety of the procedure. Somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning has proved to be inefficient. As had been stated before when, Dolly, the sheep was cloned it was after 276 failures. If attempted in humans the numbers could sky rocket. Not only would there be failures of producing the fetuses and embryos but other abnormalities could occur. There would be potential hormonal manipulation in the egg donor and multiple miscarriages in the birth mother (Mill, 24). Other abnormalities could result in severe developmental problems in the child. The developmental process into adulthood could also be problematic. “Cloning creates serious issues of identity and individuality” (Pence, 27). A cloned person may experience difficulty in discovering his or her own individuality. “If a cell can be taken from a human being and used to create a genetically identical double, then any of us could loose our uniqueness and one would no longer be a self” (Pence, 4). There have been arguments that “a brain cannot be cloned” indicating that the clone would have his or her own mind and thoughts. However one may find it difficult to grow up the younger identical twin as their brother, mother, father or any other relative.   There could also be problems of discrimination against cloned beings causing potential segregation and outcasts.

Even though it is a major scientific breakthrough it has been established throughout the years and many debates that it is immoral and unethical for human cloning to precede. The cloning of humans is clearly against the “will of God” and causes too many concerns whether it is safe to continue with such an inefficient procedure. If the majority of the people have to question whether it is right or not to allow such developments than it most likely is not right.