Shun Cloning Scientists Must Speak Out
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Scientists Must Speak Out Against Cloning
Word Count: 518
Summary:
A recent New York Times article highlighted that creating healthy animals through cloning is proving to be more challenging than expected. While this may seem like good news to those concerned about the ethics of human cloning, it is crucial for scientists to remain vigilant and vocal.Article Body:
Recent findings indicate that "creating healthy animals through cloning is more difficult than expected," according to a front-page story in the New York Times. This revelation underscores the frustrations of animal cloners and raises questions about the viability of human cloning. For those concerned about the ethical implications, this news might seem promising, suggesting a halt in progress. However, these current challenges may not be insurmountable in the long run, and scientific advancements often proceed more quickly than anticipated. Those who share the philosopher Leon Kass's view of "the wisdom of repugnance" should remain alert, as the situation could change swiftly.In the cloning process, an adult cell nucleus is inserted into an egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed. The environment of this egg cell can "reprogram" the DNA, returning it to a naive, pseudo-embryonic state. As the embryo develops, it follows the genetic blueprint of the adult donor, essentially creating an identical twin. However, significant challenges exist.
When Ian Wilmut and his team successfully cloned the sheep Dolly, it took many biologists by surprise because cloning mammals was thought to be impossible. Although frogs were cloned over 25 years ago, many scientists believed that a phenomenon called "imprinting" would prevent mammalian cloning. Imprinting provides a "memory" to developing cells, helping distinguish between skin, heart, liver, and other types of cells.
Experiments with mice suggested that imprinting permanently altered the DNA, making it impossible to create a viable embryo from an adult cell. The success of Dolly's cloning challenged this assumption. Yet, cloning mammals remains a precarious endeavor. Wilmut himself acknowledged the inefficiency and high failure rates of cloning, advising strongly against human attempts. Even the most seasoned researchers achieve viable clones only 2 to 5 percent of the time. Failures often stem from imprinting issues that continue to linger in cloned embryos, impeding their development.
MIT developmental biologist Rudolf Jaenisch highlighted these points during his testimony before a House subcommittee on March 28, and in a compelling article titled "Don't Clone Humans!" published in Science. Jaenisch and others emphasized that the high failure rates in animal cloning should deter any attempts at human cloning. Proponents of human cloning, a mix of UFO cultists and fringe medical practitioners, claim they can succeed where experts have failed with animals. Their stance is clearly untenable.
At present, human cloning will likely remain prohibited. However, there is a risk in opposing cloning solely on technical grounds: if the process becomes perfected, it could be seen as ethically acceptable. Scientists must continue to speak out against cloning, ensuring that ethical considerations remain at the forefront of this scientific debate.
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