Clones R Us (CRU) is a private company that describes itself as �the
world�s leader in the cloning of exceptional pets.� CRU funded research
at a local university that led to the 2010 birth of the world’s first
cloned cat, a healthy kitten named CC (“CopyCat”). CRU is now offering
cat cloning services to the public on a limited basis. In May 2013, CRU
plans to begin cloning nine cats, with the resulting kittens delivered
to their clients by November 2013. (Three of the cats to be cloned
belong to CRU employees.) Some people think this is a great service to
offer, while others are not so sure. Why do some people feel that
cloning cats or any other living creature would be unethical? What are
some of the reasons researchers give that support cloning? Which side
would you take in the argument, and why would you choose that side?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The topic of cloning and its ethical implications has been a topic of debate for many years. Students studying medical science, particularly those in the field of genetics and biotechnology, need to understand the various perspectives related to cloning.
Answer:
Some people consider cloning of a living creature as unethical because of its association with playing God. Cloning involves manipulating the genetic material of living organisms to produce an identical copy. Cloning endangered species may be considered a positive step but cloning pets for commercial purposes raises ethical concerns. Cloning a living creature can result in a loss of its uniqueness and diversity, which plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Cloning undermines the very essence of what makes a being unique and undermines the natural process of evolution.
Researchers, on the other hand, argue that cloning can have significant benefits, such as cloning endangered species to protect them from extinction or assist in medical research. Cloning provides a valuable opportunity to study gene expression and mutations that can lead to genetic diseases. It can help in the development of personalized medicine, stem cell therapies, and organ transplantation.
Personally, I believe that cloning for commercial purposes, such as cloning pets, is unethical as it severely undermines the natural process of evolution. By cloning pets or any other living creatures, we may be robbing these organisms of their uniqueness and natural identity. However, if cloning is used for scientific and medical research purposes or to preserve endangered species, then I am in favor of it. We must approach cloning with caution and ethical principles to ensure that it is used in a responsible and non-exploitative manner.
