Bioethics

Bioethics

Bioethics

Bioethics, which is the study of value judgments pertaining to human conduct in the area of

biology and includes those related to the practice of medicine, has been an important aspect of

all areas in the scientific field (Bernstein, Maurice, M.D.). It is one of the factors that says

whether or not certain scientific research can go on, and if it can, under which rules and

regulations it must abide by. One of the most recent and controversial issues facing our society

today is the idea of cloning. On February 23, 1997, Ian Wilmut, a Scottish scientist, along with

his colleagues at the Roslin Institute and PPL Therapeutics, announced to the world that they

had cloned a lamb, which they named Dolly, after Dolly Parton, from an adult sheep (Mario,

Christopher).

The two share the same nucleic DNA, but differ in terms of their mitochondrial DNA,

which is vitally important for the regulation of the cell. The media and the press ignored this fact,

and thus claimed that Dolly and her "mother" were genetically identical, which sparked a fury of

outcry all around the world. The technique of transferring a nucleus from a somatic cell into an

egg cell of which the nucleus had been removed, called nuclear transplantation, is an extension of

research that had been ongoing for over 40 years.

Up until now, scientists thought that adult cells could not be "reprogrammed" to behave

like a fertilized egg and create an embryo, but the evidence obtained by Dolly's success prove

otherwise. The issues of cloning have been around for a long time, starting with the publication of

Joshua Lederberg's 1966 article on cloning in the American Naturalist, and the publics interest

has been perked by many sci-fi books, films, and movies including Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel

"Brave New World," 1973's "Sleeper," the 1978 film "The Boys from Brazil," and most

recently, the movie "Multiplicity" (Mario, Christopher). The ethical, legal, and moral issues

aroused by cloning have been raised by previous projects, and are now simply emerging again,

with its focus on three major points: the shift from sexual reproduction with that of asexual

replication of existing genes; the ability to predetermine the genes of a child; and the ability to

create many genetically identical children (Report/Recommendations of the NBAC).

The public responded to Dolly with a mixture of fear and excitement, questioning the

benefits and the disasters that could happen in the future if research was to continue. From a poll

taken by Maurice Bernstein, M.D., the results showed that 72% of the votes said that cloning

should be prohibited by law. They believe that cloning for any reason would be an unethical and

immoral thing to do. A common misconception of cloning is that it is the instantaneous creation

of a fully grown adult from the cells of the individual. Also, that an exact copy, although much

younger, of an existing person could be made, reflecting the belief that one's genes bear a simple

relationship to the physical and psychological traits that make up a person. This is one point that

those against cloning are often worried about. That the clone would have no soul, no mind, no

feelings or emotions of their own, no say in how their life will be with their destiny predetermined

for them, and that each individual clone would not be unique. They are also afraid that the clone

will not be treated like a person, more like a worthless second copy, or a fill-in for what was

there but now is lost. Although the genes do play an important part, its the interaction among a

person's genetic inheritance, their environment, memories, different life experiences, and the

process of learning that result in the uniqueness of each individual (Mario, Christopher).

People think that by cloning, we are taking the creation of life into our own hands, giving

us all the control over something never before in our power, and in essence "playing God"

(Mario, Christopher). But what they don't realize is that for hundreds of years, humankind has

been controlling nature with the domestication of plants and animals, which is a violation of the

natural order of things as God has put them here on earth. Another point that those against

cloning seem to agree on is the potential of physical harm put upon those involved with the

process. First, Dolly was the only success out of 277 attempts. With humans, there is the risk of

hormonal mutations, multiple miscarriages, and possibly developmental deformities in the child,

and no one knows how many attempts it will take until a clone is finally "born". But as with all

pregnancies, the prospective parents are allowed to carry the baby to term, because of the

parent's right to reproductive freedom. But the aspect of physical harm is not a liable one,

because there