Cloning

Abstract

The research highlights the procedure of cloning and determines the ethical and moral viewpoints about it. The research incorporates arguments and responses from bioethicists in an attempt to answer the moral question of cloning. In addition, the research also identifies the significance of cloning in the medical and scientific field.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Thesis Statement1

Aims and Objectives2

Discussion2

Kass's Arguments against Cloning2

Pence's Response3

Telomeres and Allhoff's Arguments against Cloning4

Views on the Moral Permissibility of Cloning5

Conclusion5

References7

Cloning

Introduction

The technique of human cloning is the artificial generation of human embryos and asexual. This procedure involves the egg and sperm. The core theme of human cloning is reproduction, which means the creation of a human embryo. The first step of cloning involves removing the nucleus of the egg (which contains half of the hereditary information). The nucleus of any cell in the human body replaces the removed nucleus (which contains the complete genetic information). Finally, cell division begins after the application of the stimulus. At this time, the human embryo begins to develop. It is significant to emphasize that the life of a human being begins after the fertilization of the egg by sperm, which has the entire genetic information. During the process of cloning, the life of a human embryo begins with the transfer of the nucleus, which has the entire genetic information. Cloning, by the splitting of an embryo, is a process, which is similar to what occurs at the birth of the identical. When the embryo consists of 4 or 8 cells, each of which is totipotent (can cause elements of all orders), and when separated from the others, may produce an identical embryo. The artificial separation is the cloning twin fission or fission.

Thesis Statement

Cloning is morally acceptable and the advantages outweigh the ethical arguments against it.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this research is to determine the ethical grounds of cloning and present arguments in response to cloning.

Discussion

Cloning by nuclear transfer or nuclear transplantation involves the transferring of the nucleus (and, therefore, most of the genetic material) from a cell of an existing egg, replaces the core egg. This egg, now an embryo, divided by the application of electricity, and guided by its new genetic material to develop into a being that is genetically almost identical to that from whom the extraction of nucleus takes place. Nuclear transfer may achieve pregnancy in patients with poor egg quality without losing the genetic, maternal component. However, today, this technique is still experimental and has not yet been tested in patients (Fox, 2002).

Kass's Arguments against Cloning

According to Kass's arguments, the process of cloning results in a feeling of disgust among humans, which indicates that human cloning, is unacceptable and morally wrong. Kass presents arguments by discussing his view of the “custom baby”. According to this argument, the person who has control over the cloning process can decide on the end results. The person, who decides to have cloning of another person or himself, has the liberty to decide about the genetic makeup of the baby (Kass, ...