Your opinion on cloning

[bluemistake2]

Herro,

I'm just writing up a paper on cloning and I was just interested in what the escapists opinion is on it. Animal cloning, human cloning, whatever you have an opinion on by any means; share it.

My personal opinion is that I think the potential is great, the fact that it could save hundreds of thousands of life's if more research was put into it is astounding.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

That depends on what you mean by cloning.

Cloning a person's organs? Great! No chance of rejection, and the organ waiting list is a thing of the past.

Cloning people? Ehhhh, that I'm not so sure about, there's all kinds of ethical quandaries with that one.

 

[Vegosiux]

That depends on what you mean by cloning.

Cloning a person's organs? Great! No chance of rejection, and the organ waiting list is a thing of the past.

Cloning people? Ehhhh, that I'm not so sure about, there's all kinds of ethical quandaries with that one.

Daystar strikes again. Pretty much this, really. Cloning people would be too utilitarian for my tastes as well.

 

[Esotera]

You might want to be a bit more specific about cloning, it can mean a lot of different things from creating full blown human clones, creating cuttings of plants, or just replicating DNA.

Anyway, I'm for cloning when used for scientific research & medical applications, but am massively against it when used in agriculture to clone prize bulls and things like that. That particular application can reduce genetic diversity and isn't a sensible road to go down...

 

[Vivi22]

Cloning people? Ehhhh, that I'm not so sure about, there's all kinds of ethical quandaries with that one.

I'm curious what the ethical quandaries are. I've honestly never heard a good argument against it.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Cloning people? Ehhhh, that I'm not so sure about, there's all kinds of ethical quandaries with that one.

I'm curious what the ethical quandaries are. I've honestly never heard a good argument against it.

Then you haven't looked hard enough.


Impact on genetic diversity is one, and having thousands of people, who all look identical, running around, with genetic DNA, is another.


That's just touching on the subject.

 

[Hoplon]

Cloning people? Ehhhh, that I'm not so sure about, there's all kinds of ethical quandaries with that one.

I'm curious what the ethical quandaries are. I've honestly never heard a good argument against it.

So you clone a person, say for organ harvesting or healthy bone marrow, but surely that person has full rights like anyone else? so how can you take that stuff with out their consent? there is no utility to cloning entire humans.

Also yes for meat, organs, even wood.

 

[Miyenne]

As said, cloning organs and anything for medical reasons is great.

Cloning extinct or endangered animals? In some cases, good. If only to introduce the endangered species to different potential mates and keeping the breeding strictly controlled. Cloning extinct animals? That one should be taken on a case to case basis.

Cloning people? Well, being an idential, mirror image twin [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin#Monozygotic_.28.22identical.22.29_twins] myself, I don't think clones are bad. Just because you're genetically the same as babies doesn't mean you aren't two totally different people, and your bodies will develop differently. My twin is lactose intolerant. I'm not.

 

[Vivi22]

Impact on genetic diversity is one

Honestly doubt that would be much of an issue unless we start cloning instead of reproducing.

and having thousands of people, who all look identical

Someone's watched too much science fiction.

running around, with genetic DNA, is another.

Not really a huge issue except for in law enforcement, but surely if we can clone we could insert genetic markers or manipulate individual genes to differentiate the clones.

So you clone a person, say for organ harvesting or healthy bone marrow, but surely that person has full rights like anyone else? so how can you take that stuff with out their consent? there is no utility to cloning entire humans.

This is the closest I've ever seen to a valid argument, but given the ability to clone individual organs (which is being worked on and is almost inevitable), even if you found people willing to clone entire humans just to harvest their organs they wouldn't bother since it's an inefficient use of time and resources. Especially since it would be years before a full human clone would have grown enough to be a useful donor.

And this all assumes that there are enough people with absolutely no moral compass in medicine that would actually do this to begin with, but I seriously doubt there are. It's a nice thought experiment to debate and ponder over, but I honestly doubt society is so depraved that this would be a real issue any one would need to worry about.

 

[Heronblade]

So long as the rights of all human beings involved are respected, including that of any full clones, I have no problems with any of the major applications of cloning technology. In the end cloning yourself is not really much different than having a child, and has the same implications and responsibilities. Now, even within those guidelines the ability can be badly abused, but the same can/could be said of just about anything.

Well, at least once we get our technique perfected well enough that we are not dumping dozens or hundreds of fetuses for every batch of viable clones... I'm a little callous by some's standards, but that is a bit much.

Cloning people? Ehhhh, that I'm not so sure about, there's all kinds of ethical quandaries with that one.

I'm curious what the ethical quandaries are. I've honestly never heard a good argument against it.

So you clone a person, say for organ harvesting or healthy bone marrow, but surely that person has full rights like anyone else? so how can you take that stuff with out their consent? there is no utility to cloning entire humans.

Also yes for meat, organs, even wood.

direct utility? No

Viable reasons other than en masse organ harvesting? hell yes.

Take Professor Hawking for instance. He is responsible for a very large portion of our current understanding of the universe, particularly in the field of quantum mechanics, and he's done it while suffering from a disease that only allows for the smallest of hand movements for communication. Society desperately needs more minds like his, so why not just get a few more of him? Make five or six clones, correcting for the disease in question along the way, and make sure the kids get a responsible upbringing and the best education. There is always some variance to be expected, but if even one of them ends up making a similar impact the exercise will have been more than worth it

 

[Silvanus]

having thousands of people, who all look identical, running around, with genetic DNA, is another.

Things can be done in moderation. In fact, almost everything is.

When I go for a glass of water, I'm not in danger of just drinking and drinking and drinking until I drown.

 

[Scarim Coral]

As long the clone me doesn't try to killed and replace me (nor do I have the desire to do so if the clone think exactly like me), I'm all up for it.