Another View on Cloning
On Friday, South Korean scientists announced that they succeeded in cloning embryonic stem cells containing the DNA of eleven patients, nine of whom are suffering from spinal cord injuries. Every media outlet is reporting on it and every blogger is putting in his/her two cents. I would be remiss if I did not tell you what comes to mind whenever I think of cloning.
When I think of cloning, I think of Michael Keaton in the movie Multiplicity. In this 1996 movie, an over-extended husband and father decides to have himself cloned so that he can spend more time everywhere he’s needed; at work, home, and the golf course. Thing go badly awry when the clones have vastly different personalities and missions that sabotage the original one’s life.
Yes, I know that cloning has important ethical and social implications. From the Genetics & Public Policy Center:
Opposition to cloning arises from concerns about the destruction of human embryos, interfering with the natural order, the exploitation of the women from whom human eggs are obtained, and the impact of cloning human beings on those who are cloned. Support for cloning originates primarily from its potential to yield fundamental new research insights and to lead to new therapies to treat devastating illnesses.
People with more influence than me are debating the issues so I won’t rehash the arguments here.
What’s important to remember is that therapeutic cloning is not the same as reproductive cloning. Therapeutic cloning will never result in making a human being with his/her own life, wants, and desires. And as Multiplicity points out, reproductive cloning will never make a human being that’s the same as the original.
Being able to live in perpetuity is one of the reasons people state for wanting to clone themselves. They couldn’t be more deluded. Even if a clone is a perfect match to the original person in every way, which is an impossibility, the original person will never be the clone. The original will still have a finite life with his/her own experiences.
In any case, my toddler is similar enough to me that I know I would go insane having to be with a clone who’s exactly like me.
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POSTED IN: Genetic Engineering
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6 opinions for Another View on Cloning
Shai
May 22, 2005 at 5:50 pm
The idea of cloning is still way over my head. I mean, why will anyone want a replica of oneself - or even a loved one? It will never be the same person, as each one will have different sets of experiences, backgrounds, etc. that will shape their personalities.
Anyway, I agree that there may be a place for therapeutic cloning in this world. But, how does the line get drawn? Humans tend to push the limit.
On a lighter note, I just watched a move the other day about cloning as well. It’s a pre-teen movie that I’ve *never* heard of before called "The Other Me" or something.
Lei
May 22, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Shai - Lines get redrawn all the time. There was a lot of brouhaha surrounding IVF when it finally succeeded. Now it’s as commonplace as breast implants. ;)
Christine
May 23, 2005 at 1:56 am
Hi Lei — agree with Shai, don’t think my husband would appreciate another me! Hard enough to live with me as it is! haha Can never understand why people want to clone themselves or a loved one for that matter — like you said the clones will never be the originals so why bother? The idea has crossed my mind when our favourite cat died but come to think of it, even if we did clone it, it will never be the same cuddly and affectionate cat — hmmm…
Lei
May 23, 2005 at 1:58 am
I think animal cloning is already available (http://www.savingsandclone….)! Reminds me of that Arnold Schwartzenegger movie…. People are going to start wondering if I’m a real scientist using movies for references. HA!
Shai
May 23, 2005 at 7:38 am
Just saw this article and thought about your blog entry -
Chopsticks for Better Cloning - http://www.wired.com/news/m…
» Therapeutic Cloning Was a Fraud Genetics and Health
Dec 15, 2005 at 9:49 pm
[…] One of the year’s biggest stories in bioscience appears to have been make-believe. In May, scientists in South Korean announced that they’d been able to clone eleven embryonic stem cell lines containing the DNA of patients who suffered from diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, and spinal cord injury. The hope was that the cloned stem cells could be used therapeutically via transplantation without fear of rejection. […]
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