Essay on Benefits of Human Cloning

Submitted By taylorbs1
Words: 914
Pages: 4

Benefits of Human Cloning In the past few decades, there has been much talk about the place that cloning should have in today’s society. Recent advances in cloning procedures have sparked great controversy and debate over the entire cloning issue. When most people think of human cloning they usually think of science fiction about cloning vast armies or creating designer children, this is not what the purpose of what cloning could offer today. Although protestors do have some valid points the potentials of what cloning can accomplish greatly outweighs its cons, and laws should be lifted that prohibit these life changing opportunities. First off people should know that there are two types of human cloning. The first being therapeutic cloning which will be the main focus of this essay, and reproductive cloning. Reproductive cloning is a type of cloning with the intent of producing another human being. The process is done by taking the genetic material out of a donor egg, so that you are left with an empty egg. Then a cell is taken from the organism to be cloned and its nucleus is removed. This nucleus is then transferred into the empty donor egg. Using chemicals or a mild electric shock, the egg is forced to divide, creating an embryo. This embryo is then transferred into the uterus of the host organism. Therapeutic cloning is performed, not to produce another organism, but to harvest embryonic stem cells for use in medical treatments. Embryonic stem cells are those cells found inside of developing embryos. They can be used to produce a number of different cells including tissue, muscle, and organ cells. The therapeutic cloning process is very similar to that of reproductive cloning, however, instead of implanting the dividing embryo into a host, its stem cells are removed and the embryo dies. A cell is removed from the patient requiring medical treatment. The nucleus of this cell is removed and inserted into an empty donor egg. Division is encouraged through the use of special chemicals or an electric current. The resulting embryonic stem cells are then removed from this embryo and used to treat the patient. Allowing human cloning will mean that a lot of human embryos are created and destroyed. Pro lifers are very against the destroying of these embryos. They believe that human embryos are viable living things with their own rights. They argue that an embryo has DNA and a complete genome; it has all of the capabilities of growing into a mature human fetus. They say that this disregard for human life would be highly unethical, and that any procedure that has a very high risk of endangering human lives should not be permitted, and therefore there needs to be a ban on human cloning. To take it a step further many religious individuals believe that this is interfering with creation and should only be left to “God”. They believe that human beings have no right to play god. Although these are valid points the pros seem to outweigh the cons.
First off when a scientist harvests the embryo, it is only a small cluster of cells. Though these cells have the potential to grow into more at this point it does not even have a heartbeat. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to grow into many sorts of tissue, and thus to regenerate damaged or dead organs or cells. Stem cells from adults and from umbilical cords and placentas also show therapeutic promise, but many researchers believe that embryonic cells are most versatile and thus offer the best hope of reversing Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease by regenerating brain tissue, cystic fibrosis and spinal injuries by