Cloning and Our Society

Society is a stable System in which many forces coexist by virtue of selective compromises to foster in harmony. But it is true only till such compromises are acceptable to all. Diverse faculties might have diverse views on a subject pertaining to the society at large. What is important here is to understand the importance of each faculty and honour them. Society as a dynamic and stable entity can exist only when we try to accommodate as diverse views as possible.

A recent issue that has been making rounds around the world and collecting many conflicting views is cloning. Many sections of the society have their opinion regarding this scientific breakthrough that has many promises in store. There can be many angles to this issue, but most importantly we have to consider cloning with respect to science, religion and ethics. These cover almost every concern that has come after it first made news.

Scientifically speaking there are different types of cloning, and cloning technologies can be used for other purposes besides producing the genetic twin of another organism. A basic understanding of the different types of cloning is key to taking an informed stance on current public policy issues and making the best possible personal decisions. There are three types of cloning technologies viz. recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning.

The terms "recombinant DNA technology," "DNA cloning," "molecular cloning,"or "gene cloning" all refer to the same process: the transfer of a DNA fragment of interest from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element such as a bacterial plasmid. The DNA of interest can then be propagated in a foreign host cell. This technology has been around since the 1970s, and it has become a common practice in molecular biology labs today.

Reproductive cloning is a technology used to generate an animal that has the same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing animal. Dolly was created by reproductive cloning technology. In a process called "somatic cell nuclear transfer" (SCANT), scientists transfer genetic material from the nucleus of a donor adult cell to an egg whose nucleus, and thus its genetic material, has been removed. The reconstructed egg containing the DNA from a donor cell must be treated with chemicals or electric current in order to stimulate cell division. Once the cloned embryo reaches a suitable stage, it is transferred to the uterus of a female host where it continues to develop until birth.

Therapeutic cloning, also called "embryo cloning," is the production of human embryos for use in research. The goal of this process is not to create cloned human beings, but rather to harvest stem cells that can be used to study human development and to treat disease. Stem cells are important to biomedical researchers because they can be used to generate virtually any type of specialized cell in the human body. Stem cells are extracted from the egg after it has divided for 5 days. The egg at this stage of development is called a blastocyst. The extraction process destroys the embryo, which raises a variety of ethical concerns. Many researchers hope that one day stem cells can be used to serve as replacement cells to treat heart disease, Alzheimer's, cancer, and other diseases.

Scientists hope that one day therapeutic cloning can be used to generate tissues and organs for transplants. To do this, DNA would be extracted from the person in need of a transplant and inserted into an enucleated egg. After the egg containing the patient's DNA starts to divide, embryonic stem cells that can be transformed into any type of tissue would be harvested. The stem cells would be used to generate an organ or tissue that is a genetic match to the recipient. In theory, the cloned organ could then be transplanted into the patient without the risk of tissue rejection.

There are several ethical issues involved with cloning. Embryo that is used as a vital source of stem cells is the origin of human life form. Thus when embryo gets destroyed in the process of extracting stem cells, it might be seen as killing a seed with potential to develop into a human form. We need to analyze the issue of right to life for an embryo. Feoticide is a crime in almost all the nations and cultures. Feotus is an advanced stage of the embryo. So we have to decide upon the actual point when a lump of live cells can be attributed as potential life forms.

Then there are religious issues involved. Almost all the religions existing today except a supreme creator in some or the other form. That supreme creator have certain wishes which get manifested in the form of nature. If we try to reproduce in non traditional forms as cloning, it conflicts with the nature. Then there are other forms of reproduction which have been accepted today as bypass. Popular among them are in-vitro fertilization and the concept of surrogate mother. They faced stiff resistance and with time got accepted by a society crippled with the various forms of fertility diseases.

What need to be searched is a way that look into all the concerns above and propose a solution. Simply denying the benefits of cloning at a stage where it hosts the promises for solution to many problems should definitely not be the way. On the other hand it needs to be very critically scrutinized to avoid the misuse of its potentiality. Scholars from different faculties and cultures need to brainstorm without any prejudices to achieve this target.

Learn more about cloning : http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/index.cfm