Angeline+Foote

CLONING

I was working with  Vibhuti Godambe     on our project, Cloning. We made a video debate on if Reproductive Cloning Research should continue. We were against the cause, and our opponents were  Crispin Matinga     and   Chimwemwe Mkandawire    . Here is the video of the debate, we won. Here are some background information you can read before you watch the debate, to get yourself more familiar with the concepts and procedures of cloning **. ** 

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS ON REPRODUCTIVE CLONING? Cloning has caused many arguments on whether or not it should be allowed or not. The question still remains unanswered and reproductive cloning research has been banned in many countries until moral and ethical issues on the subject can be answered.

 __**WHAT IT TAKES TO CLONE**__   1. To create a clone an egg is taken from a woman. 2. This is then stripped of its DNA. (Egg cells, like sperm cells only have half the chromosomes of any other cell. The empty egg is given DNA from a person – this could be a complete set of chromosomes from the mother or from any other person). 3. An electrical shock is given to the cell and in a small percent of tries, the cell starts dividing like a fertilized egg would.

** __PROS OF CLONING__ **  · If the vital organs of the human body can be cloned, they can serve as backup systems for human beings. Cloning body parts can serve as a lifesaver. When a body organ such as a kidney or heart fails to function, it may be possible to replace it with the cloned body organ.

· Cloning in human beings can prove to be a solution to infertility. Cloning has the potential of serving as an option for producing children. Cloning may make it possible to reproduce a certain trait in human beings. We will be able to produce people with certain qualities, human beings with particular desirable traits, thus making human beings a man-made being!

· Cloning technologies can prove helpful for the researchers in genetics. They might be able to understand the composition of genes and the effects of genetic constituents on human traits, in a better manner. They will be able to alter genetic constituents in cloned human beings, thus simplifying their analysis of genes. Cloning may also help us combat a wide range of genetic diseases.

· Cloning can make it possible for us to obtain customized organisms and harness them for health benefits of society. Cloning can serve as the best means to replicate animals that can be used for research purposes.

· Cloning can enable the genetic alteration of plants and animals. If positive changes can be brought about in living beings with the help of cloning, it will indeed be a boon to mankind.

__CONS OF CLONING__ · Cloning created identical genes. It is a process of replicating a genetic constitution, thus hampering the diversity in genes. While lessening the diversity in genes, we weaken our ability of adaptation. Cloning is also detrimental to the beauty that lies in diversity.

· While cloning allows man to tamper with genetics in human beings, it also makes deliberate reproduction of undesirable traits, a probability. Cloning of body organs might invite malpractices in society.

· In cloning human organs and using them for transplant, or in cloning human beings themselves, technical and economic barriers will have to be considered. Will cloned organs be cost-effective? Will cloning techniques really reach the common man?

· Moreover, cloning will put human and animal rights at stake. Will cloning fit into our ethical and moral principles? Cloning will leave man just another man-made being. Won't it devalue mankind? Won't it undermine the value of human life?

· Cloning is equal to emulating God. Is that easy? Is that risk-free? Many are afraid it is not!  ** Now, now that you are briefed with some of the issues concerning Cloning, please enjoy our Debate Movie! :D **  