However, what if your twin didn't have any responsibilities and were there simply just to be there in case you needed them. Wouldn't that be nice? I’d probably try and convince my clone to do all the things I wouldn’t want to do. But enough of that, let’s get some facts in here.
There are different ways of cloning. According to Human Genome Project Information website there is a type called reproductive cloning, recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, and therapeutic cloning. The understanding of these is critical to take a stance on the topic. DNA or recombinant DNA technologies cloning both refer to the same process: the transfer of a DNA fragment of interest from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element. If you didn’t follow exactly what that meant it means that you take the DNA you wish to replicate and put it into a foreign host cell to grow. This is done when scientists study genes.
Now on to reproductive cloning, which refers to the technology a scientist would use to generate a human or animal that has the same DNA as another that is existing or was once existing. With this may bring up Dolly in your mind. However you may not know who that is either. Dolly was a sheep that was the first mammal to be cloned. Now, on to therapeutic cloning.
Therapeutic cloning is also called embryo cloning and is the production of human embryos for research use. This isn’t done because scientists want to clone humans but to help save us by harvesting stem cells. Stem cells are used to study a human’s development and to treat disease. So who wouldn’t mind having some therapeutic cloning done.
Now, where will society stand...? Is this a good idea or bad?
This opens many doors for us to improve our way of life in the future but also any good technology can be used badly. In the future this could help us fight disease and make it possible to live longer, wouldn’t that be nice? But let’s hope this doesn’t get over board and make it possible for someone to make an entire army of killing machines all looking like the same individual, no one wants that.
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The two sites on cloning alone are free from bias and are government or education based sites so they are pretty accurate. The article on Dolly is for the general public and is probably a little biased. Overall, I believe these sites are quality sites and are there to create a better understanding of cloning.
