Ethics of Human Cloning and Genetic Engineering

Introduction When the first clone of the Roslin Institute was published in March 1996, the paper was full of speculation about its long-term impact. For this discovery, media attention has focused on the possibility of cloning humans. By doing so, we missed the direct impact of this work on how we use animals. I do not know if this will actually be a lump of cloned lamb in the rural areas of the United States or clinically cut meat on the supermarket shelf.

Human Cloning To date, genetic manipulation and cloning have been used to clone plants, unicellular organisms, amphibians and simple mammals. This has resulted in significant advances in agriculture, industry and medicine. A newer technique in genetic engineering has made it possible for scientists to open up the possibility of cloning more complex mammals and cloning humans. Although this technology has many potential advantages, the likelihood of cloning humans is presented in many practical, moral, and religious ways.

Human Cloning and Genetic Engineering In addition to concerns regarding breeding of animals, it is important to note that the techniques used to clone animals are the same as those available for cloning humans or producing transgenic animals Are concerned. Researchers in the UK and Australia support the idea of ​​making human and animal hybrids like 99.9% human embryos and 0.1% rabbits by fusing human cells into animal eggs . Clones are generally regarded as "unnatural" because they generally require higher levels of participation and interference with the fertility of animals than traditional production methods. Several religious groups, including Protestant, Catholics, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist religious groups have rejected animal clones for moral reasons.