Question

Cloning

Research cloning. Consider the following: How is the procedure done? What's the difference between reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning? What are the pros? What are the cons? Should it be regulated? Are there currently clones in the market now? Would a clone of a dead relative or pet have the same personality? List at least one source from your research.

Answer 1

Cloning in biotechnology is defined as the processes used to create copies of DNA fragments, cells (cell cloning), or organisms (organism cloning). The main process of cloning is as follows:

Reproductive cloning is the production of a genetic duplicate of an existing organism while the Therapeutic cloning refers to the removal of a nucleus, which contains the genetic material, from virtually any cell of the body (a somatic cell) and its transfer by injection into an unfertilised egg from which the nucleus has also been removed.

Pros of cloning:

• Cloning finds applications in genetic fingerprinting, amplification of DNA and alteration of the genetic makeup of organisms.
• It can be used to bring about desired changes in the genetic makeup of individuals thereby introducing positive traits in them, as also for the elimination of negative traits.
• Cloning can also be applied to plants to remove or alter defective genes, thereby making them resistant to diseases. Cloning may find applications in the development of human organs, thus making human life safer
• Helps in organ replacement
• Helps in genetic research

Cons of cloning:

• Cloning is copying or replicating biological traits in organisms. Thus it might reduce the diversity in nature.
• It has some moral ethics attached with it.
• Human cloning would lessen the worth of individuals and diminish respect for human life. Human life would be seen as replaceable. If something happened to a person, like if they were killed, another clone could simply replace it. In fact, it would create a different child and could never replace the one that is lost. Clones would also be subject to discrimination based on the fact that they are a clone and did not arise because of sexual reproduction.

Yes, there are clones present in the market now. A cloned copy of a prize-winning cow has recently been auctioned in the US before it is even in the womb. At The World Dairy Expo, Wisconsin a Minnesota group paid $82,000 for the yet to be conceived calf.