Ethical Essay One -- A Focus on Cloning

Katie Meyers

Ethical Essay One – Cloning Focus

What most of us think of when we hear the word “cloning” is something like “making a copy of a living thing (most likely an animal)”. However, there are several types of cloning, along with many issues resulting from such a ludicrously possible line of science that has many possible benefits as well as consequences.

One type of cloning is called recombinant DNA technology or, for a more straightforward title, DNA cloning. It also goes by the titles molecular cloning and gene cloning. It is essentially defined as “the transfer of a DNA fragment of interest from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element such as a bacterial plasmid. The DNA of interest can then be propagated in a foreign host cell.” (http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/archive/cloning.shtml) Also, it can generate multiple copies of one gene. These multiple copies can be used for further and faster research. The bacterial plasmid mentioned in the above quote can carry up to 20,000 bp of foreign DNA. However, bacterial plasmid is not the only type of host cell that is used in DNA cloning, although it is the most often used. There are also viruses, bacteria artificial chromosomes (BAC), and yeast artificial chromosomes (YAC). DNA cloning has been around since the 1970’s and is now a common practice in today’s science laboratories. It helps scientists learn about other technologies like gene therapy, genetic engineering, and sequencing genomes, to name a few. Gene therapy is about treating certain genetic conditions, and genetic engineering opens the possibility of changing (and hopefully improving) food crops.

Another type of cloning is reproductive cloning, or making the twin of a genetic organism. It is “used to generate another animal that has the same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing organism”. (http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/archive/cloning.shtml) This is the type we first think of when hearing the word “cloning”, as mentioned in the first paragraph. It involves something called SCNT, or somatic cell nuclear transfer. This procedure begins with genetic info being transferred from an adult donor cell to an egg whose nucleus (and therefore genetic info) has been removed. Next, the egg must be treated with chemicals or electric currents to stimulate cell division. After the egg divides enough, the egg is put in an appropriate animal’s uterus for the rest of the egg’s development until birth. Unlike the common perception, reproductive cloning does not produce an exact copy, because some of the adult donor cell’s DNA is stored in its mitochondria. This genetic information is never transferred to the egg, therefore allowing the egg to use its own mitochondria DNA. The first well-known breakthrough in reproductive cloning was Dolly, or the first living cloned sheep (she died after six years), made in 1997. Dolly the sheep is certainly not the only animal to have been successfully cloned. For instance, cows, tadpoles (the first reproductive cloning success in 1952), goats, mice, pigs, cats, rabbits, and one whole wild ox have been successfully reproductively cloned. However, this type of cloning has a very low success rate. For instance, Dolly was the one success out of 276 tries! However, reproductive cloning is amazing when it succeeds, since Dolly was created from just one sheep cell. For instance, reproductive cloning states that an entire cow can be created from the genetic information in just one of its utter cells. Reproductive cloning has also been considered as a tool for preventing the extinction of endangered animal species across the globe. Some scientists have taken this thinking even a step farther. Remember how a cow can be made from one utter cell? Well, some scientists think that it would be possible to do this with extinct species as well, as long as one cell containing genetic information can be extracted from the age-old remains of such species. However, this requires even more work and improvement in the field of reproductive technology. Let us make sure an extinct animal’s cell has more than a 1/276 chance of living before we step into such admittedly ludicrous, but tremendously exciting territory. After all, another reproductive cloning statistic is that over 90% of attempts fail. Also, the few clones that make it into the success category tend to have more physical problems than their natural counterparts. In the end, reproductive cloning has a road of possible amazements, but much work as well, ahead of it.

The last genre to look at is therapeutic cloning, or embryo cloning. This consists of the “production of human embryos for use in research”, or “harvest[ing] stem cells that can be used to study human development and to treat disease”. (http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/archive/cloning.shtml) This process starts with an embryo that has developed (and divided) for five days. After that, the stem cells are extracted from the embryo. As a result, the stem cells are then used for research. However, this process has raised an ethical issue that has gained much attention in the world’s eyes. There is a consequence to be “paid” by the embryo, as the extraction of its stem cell(s) kills the embryo. Some say this is murder on an almost microscopic level, as this takes away the possibility of a child’s life when the embryo dies. However, others say that as it is not yet a human being, the embryo’s stem cells should be privy to the improvement of society. After all, the results of more therapeutic cloning research could well be very beneficial to society. These undeveloped stem cells can be used to create almost any human cell. As a result, this opens the possibility of providing new cells that were destroyed by diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer, to name a few. Also, such stem cells could be made into organs. As a result, the need for organ donations would lower, possibly drastically. The chance of rejection with these “new fangled” organs would be zero. In 2001, the scientists at the Advanced Cell Technologies biotechnology company cloned the first human embryos for therapeutic cloning research. However, there was limited success; only one embryo survived, and it lived long enough to divide into only six cells. Another possibility in this field is genetically changing pigs and then using their organs has human replacements. With the possibility of turning off the “rejection” gene and turning on the “human” gene (in layman’s words), this could also be an option. Despite which side one wants to stand on in this highly debated branch of cloning, all will agree that many challenges in technology face scientists before any such results can be achieved.

Now, let us glimpse another cloning ethical issue: human cloning. Is it ethical? Although this is still debated among the scientific community, the American Medical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science have both publicly stated that they are against it, not to mention that the U.S. Congress is working on banning human cloning in the United States. Why is this viewpoint so strongly stated? Many scientists believe human cloning to be unethical due to the low success rates of this type of cloning (remember Dolly’s statistics?) and debilitating conditions the few successful clones must live with. Also, as this type of cloning has only been used on animals, it is unknown how a human’s mental development would be affected from cloning. Overall, human cloning is viewed as dangerous and ethically irresponsible.

Whether it be DNA, reproductive, or therapeutic cloning, many possibilities and dangers lurk in the “waters” of the world of cloning. Some of these possibilities sound wonderful and exciting, like curing Alzheimer’s and cancer, or replacing an organ and saving a life. Even more, can you imagine bringing a dinosaur back to life and visiting it in the zoo even?! That too may be possible one day in the world of cloning. At a glimpse, cloning seems to open the door to a world full of fantastic creatures, cured sicknesses and genetic diseases, and even no more pain. However, there are a great many steps that must be taken and achieved, as well as many ethical issues to be grappled with, before such a world is made possible. Also, let us not forget the possibly devastating consequences of attempts to affect the human body and our ecosystem. Either way, I am very interested in the future of cloning, and will be watching to see what happens in such a dynamic field of science during my lifetime.