What are your feelings about cloning?

[Arkitech]

I just recently read an article about how cloned animals are able to reproduce normal and healthy offspring. It's really interesting to see the progress that is being made with cloning. I remember a while ago that there was a big uproar about a scientist who wanted to clone a human. If I remember correctly Bill Clinton was strongly opposed to the idea. But something tells me that despite what ever laws are against such experiments that they will still take place out of the sight of the media and the goverment.

1. Do you think that cloning experiments should be done with human DNA?

2. How do you feel about cloning?

3. Is it a abomination of nature?

4. Would you allow scientist to use your DNA in a cloning exeriment if it could prolong and improve the quality of you life?

 

[Mday]

1. Do you think that cloning experiments should be done with human DNA?

no . They'll do it just as they have been doing it. THEY

2. How do you feel about cloning?

eh, whatever. complete understanding of the genome means that, they can make organs for you should anything happen. and i don't mean by cloning YOU and carving that sucker up, i mean actually growing an organ.

3. Is it a abomination of nature?

no, it's man's and woman's ever continuing role of playing god. (showing at all theatres near you)

4. Would you allow scientist to use your DNA in a cloning exeriment if it could prolong and improve the quality of you life?

cloning in itself is not the real problem, it is the experimentation (cloning itself is an experiment, and the term experimentation is VERY broad, so don't say i said cloning is not the problem). we all know they are going to make money from this. and we will only BUY it if it is good for us (or we are told it is good for us).

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do you have a semi complete understanding of genetics?

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pregnancy, DNA tests can show any known problems with the "child" and certain problems can be corrected (later, or now) -- problem, ABORTIONS.

 

[Mday]

bill already mentioned that the US is forbidden to do it.

 

[OutlawStar]

Well I find this question interesting, let me see if I can pharse my thoughts intelligently...

1. If the nature of the experiments is for the pure expansion of human knowledge, I feel that there scientific organizations and insitutions should conduct additional experiments. We advance ourselves by excreasing our understanding of the environment that surrounds us. It would be detrimental not to pursue a full understanding of cloning and its related applications.

2. Personally, I have no problem with the underlying principles of cloning. Although in the past many people have often spoken out regarding certain 'forbidden' techologies or subjects that mankind should not pursue, I do not think cloning is something we should collectively fear. However, using cloning as a means to overcome certain medical problems we face today (using clones as farms to grow organs suitable for transplant) would have an negative impact on the field of medicine. While some would argue the ethical and moral implications of exploting clones for befit of 'naturally-born' humans, I believe using clones for the harvesting of organs would have a negative impact on the field of medicine as it would most likely retard efforts aimed at curing disease as a reserve of readily availible donor organs would always be at hand. Even though it can be argued that having completely compatiable sets of donor organs availible in major metropolitain areas would save the lives of those needing donor organs... I feel that finding a permenent cure would be best

3. Of course not. 'Nature' is as we choose to define it. Nature is a creation of the combined qualities of all the lifeforms at inhabit it. We, humans, as holding the highest postion amoung animals and plants play a major role in shaping our surrounding environment. If you look at samples of single cell organisms who multiply by cell division, producing two identical copies of themselves, you could argue that they practicing a form of cloning.

In any case, I believe that cloning is simply another expansion of human knowledge. While this knowledge could possibily be used to an evil purpose (which I believe could not be sustained for any long term period), the positive effects that we as a species have to gain from expanding research into the field of cloning is immense.

4. Yes, I believe I would. Allowing of course that the government is not collecting samples of citizen DNA to organize a plot to control our thoughts, emotions, and actions... j/k.

 

[UG]

I, myself, have no more fear of cloning technologies than I have fears of any other technology. I say bring it on.

I understand that certain applications of any technology may produce undesireable consequences, but the benefits to the human condition by the use of such technology makes using it most desireable.

Imagine DNA technologies able to better adapt humans to space travel, or deep sea, deep earth, or high altitude environmental conditions. The ability of the humans species to survive major environmental change will be much improved. Yeah, bring on global warming! Yeah, bring on the next ice age! We can survive it! Asteroid gonna hit the Earth? We're spread across space, yeah, bring it on!

 

[unxpurg8d]

My feeling about cloning is that there are very few people I can stand ONE of........

 

[jhu]

i do cloning all the time at the lab

 

[Arkitech]

Wow I'm suprised at the respones on this topic. For some odd reason I thought that people would be closeminded about this subject. Personally I think if given enough the studies of genetics and cloning could actually reveal the reason why people grow old and die. Theoretically the human body is designed to live forever. Old cells are broken down so that new healthy cells can take their place. This process alone is an indicator that the human body should continue live longer that what we are currently used to.

My brother-in-law lost the use of his kidneys a few years ago and it's really tough to see him have to suffer. So any kind of progress through science that can be made to help cure individuals with conditions like his would be a definite plus to mankind.