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The development of science affects our life. With new findings, with new improvements and technologies, our life and our view of life inevitably change. This is even more so in the case of cloning, this latest, revolutionary method in medical science. By now we can clone vegetables, animal organs and even whole animals. In light of the latest successful mammal experiments, the question inevitably emerges: can we, or more importantly, should we clone humans as well?
The possible effects of this new technology upon our society have created huge debates. Some argue that we should not continue these kinds of experiments, while others are thrilled by the possibilities of this new technology. Aversions to cloning stem from ethical and social bases, generated by the fear that cloning might totally alter us as human and social beings. What we no experts know about cloning comes mainly from the world of fiction: from films or novels that almost without exception paint a dark picture of how people would use this new technology. New Hitlers will come and whole armies will be created by cloning to help Evil rule the world, and so on. This vision is horrendous, but is it based on fact? Do we really know what cloning is about? Do we know what it can be used for besides making "identical twins"? What can it mean in medical treatment, how can it be of help to many? Without denying that there are views worth considering within the opposing argumentation, this paper will argue that we should not reject this new technology, which might bring many positive changes in our life.
Cloning can be a valuable tool for researchers to learn more about human development and about the treatment of diseases and defects. The perfection of cloning human cells and tissues, for example, would solve many questions in medical practice. With the help of this new method certain organs could be reproduced from a single cell, which, in the longer term might replace the transplantation method to everybody's benefit. The organs gained this way would be able to perfectly adjust to the receptive body. Hearts, lungs, kidneys and livers could be produced this way, or skin for burn victims and limbs for amputees. Further experiments made with the help of cloning could suit in finding treatments for cancer, since the growth of cancer cells seem to show much similarity to that of the human morals. Furthermore, treating damaged brains or nervous systems might be possible due to cloning. Cloned human embryos would make research into genetics and genetically related diseases possible, as a result of which the risk of genetic diseases and defects could be eliminated. Down's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease would be remnants of the past. Research in the field of embryo cloning might lead to a greater understanding of the causes of miscarriages, thus helping people in having healthy babies. These are just few fields where the positive effects of cloning can be seen, but even from these examples it is evident that this new methodology could cause significant medical breakthrough.
The arguments of those opposing cloning are mainly of an ethical nature. Some religious communities regard cloning as 'playing God', claiming that it is an unnatural method of creating new life. However, cloning is creating life from living material, not from inanimate material, and is just an extension of in vitro fertilization procedures. As many will remember that the first test tube babies provoked the same strong protests, but by now this method is widely accepted. Just as the test tube method can help mothers unable to canny their babies to term, embryo cloning is a potential treatment for infertility. Couples, who otherwise could not have a baby, can use cloning technology. Helping them does not seem very different than assisting in conception with in vitro fertilization.
Further arguments against cloning originate from the fear of what this new method could bring into our society. Can we, the opponents ask, deal with the many new, sometimes unforeseeable problems that cloned people would present for themselves as well as for our society? Questions, such as the legal status of clones or the social and psychological effect that the presence of many "identical" people can cause are still relevant and unanswered. Another main fear is that people would choose all of the characteristics of their offspring, including their sex, thus endangering human diversity. This concern seems justified, all the more as it shows similarity to the aim of Nazi Germany, which was to create the "perfect man". Though some people think that it is their own right to choose their descendants, and even to recreate themselves if possible, we should make use of these new technologies with great responsibility.
There are views on the opposing side that are relevant and we do have to consider them, however, it does not mean that we should ban cloning completely, thus losing all the benefits that it can bring into our lives. Although there are legitimate concerns regarding the use of cloning that should be weighed, and some steps should even be taken to regulate the use of this method until we have a clearer picture of this matter, we should not throw away all the advantages that this technology can offer. Human cloning is a great opportunity for medical advancement, which can help thousands of people worldwide. We should regard it as a possibility for gaining new information for the benefit of mankind, but we must not ignore the potential negative effects it could cause as well.