LifeLink: Human Cloning

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May 2005

What is Human Cloning?

Human cloning is the asexual reproduction of humans; one method of asexual reproduction is somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In SCNT, the nucleus from a human egg is discarded and a somatic cell (any human cell other than an egg or sperm cell) is then inserted into the enucleated egg. At that moment of fusion, a new human life has begun and is multiplying in the same way that a human life created by traditional fertilization multiplies. Even though no sperm was involved, the product of asexual reproduction and SCNT is indeed a new tiny human being; the somatic cell acts as the fertilizing agent for the enucleated egg.

There are two types of cloning: reproductive and research or therapeutic cloning. The same scientific process is used for both reproductive and therapeutic cloning; the difference is how the clones are used once they are created. In reproductive cloning, the cloned human embryos are implanted into a womb with the intention of birthing a cloned baby. In research or therapeutic cloning, the cloned human embryos are destroyed through scientific experimentation. Proponents of research/therapeutic cloning want to create the human clones in order to extract their stem cells for scientific experimentation via embryonic stem cell research. Dismembering the embryos to harvest their stem cells kills these cloned human embryos. Therefore, therapeutic/research cloning entails the death of these tiny human embryos.

Is human cloning morally permissible?

Human cloning is not morally permissible. Many ethical problems arise with both types of human cloning. In addition to the deliberate destruction of the cloned human embryos for research/therapeutic cloning, scientists cloning for reproductive purposes would be engineering the genetic code for these cloned humans (as opposed to natural selection). The scientists would then determine which characteristics are desirable and which human clones should be born. The scientists who created Dolly the sheep, the first cloned animal, failed 277 times before creating Dolly. The unintended consequences of not only creating innocent human life in the laboratory, but also manipulating the human genetic code are too great.

Some advocate that human embryos should be cloned because research using the extracted stem cells could lead to cures for diseases; however, this over-exaggerated potential for cures in no way justifies lethal experimentation on nascent human life. To date, no cures or medical breakthroughs have been realized with embryonic stem cell research while over 58 diseases and conditions have been successfully treated with adult stem cell therapies, a morally acceptable option with better proven results than cloning.

Human Cloning Prohibition Acts

Both our state legislature and the US Congress are currently considering measures that ban human cloning, whether the cloned humans are intended for research or for reproductive purposes. Those opposed to cloning bans do not recognize the product of asexual reproduction or SCNT as human life worthy of respect and protection.