Cloning

Introduction

Cloning is the creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another. This means that every single bit of DNA is the same between the two!

You might not believe it, but there are human clones among us right now. They weren't made in a lab, though: they're identical twins, created naturally (Ruse 12). Below, we'll see how natural identical twins relate to modern cloning technologies.

Arguments against Cloning

There are plenty of arguments against cloning - especially against cloning humans - ranging from scientific issues, to the practicality of cloning, to religious objections.

On the scientific side, we see that a large percentage of cloning efforts end in failure (Pence 67). For example, it took hundreds of attempts to clone Dolly the sheep. Often clones don't live as long as sexually reproduced animals, possibly because the genes taken from adults are more likely to have undergone mutations.

Another scientific argument is that genetic diversity helps provide the "pool" of variations available for a robust human population. It is commonly known that inbreeding animals constantly can result in reduced variations and an increased risk of genetic defects (McGee 78). An example is hip displasia in purebred dogs. Mutts tend to be more adaptable and healthier.

On the practical side, it is far easier to reproduce naturally than to create individuals through cloning. And it is vastly more practical to have a child within the context of marriage and a family than in a laboratory (Lester 56).

On the religious side, there is the fact that every human life is precious in God's eyes and, whether cloned or created naturally, deserves to live as a valuable member of God's kingdom. Just as each member of a pair of identical twins has a soul, so would a clone.

Those who favor cloning humans argue that we could produce more geniuses and thereby improve life for everyone through their contributions. Some argue that we could produce clones to provide "spare parts" for people who need transplants.

There is no proof that someone who is genetically identical to Albert Einstein, for example, would be a genius or would use his genius for socially acceptable ends. Upbringing and environment could turn an Einstein clone into another Adolf Hitler.

As for spare parts, it would be no more ethical to use a clone for that purpose than it would be to use your next door neighbor.

There are two passages in the Bible that bear directly on the issue of men playing God (MacKinnon 45). The first is in Genesis, when Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden of Eden for taking fruit from the tree of knowledge and presuming to obtain God's wisdom.

Also, in Genesis 11 is the story of the Tower of Babel. Humans, with the help of a common language, were on the verge of building a tower all the way to Heaven (Lauritzen 67). But God did not approve:

"The LORD said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan ...