Individual Summer ProjectIndividual Summer Project

Human Cloning Human Cloning

& &

its ethical implicationits ethical implication

What do you think of when you hear the word “CLONING”?

One person goes in, two people come out Two people go in, four people come out Creation of an Army of Clones? Engineered to fearlessly fight to the death• Clones instead of babies (reproduction option)• Clones for body parts• Clones that take your place and live your life• A person of identical looks, abilities, feelings,

memories

Why Clone at All?Why Clone at All?

Medical researchMedical research Pharmaceuticals Genetic Cloning Therapeutic Cloning Reproduction

What is cloning?What is cloning?

Embryo Splitting or Embryo Splitting or

“Cloning”“Cloning”

Somatic Cell Nuclear Somatic Cell Nuclear

Transfer (SCNT)Transfer (SCNT)

Reproductive CloningReproductive Cloning

Therapeutic CloningTherapeutic Cloning

Embryo Splitting or “Cloning”Embryo Splitting or “Cloning”

Separation of human embryo into 2 parts. Separation of human embryo into 2 parts.

Cells removed from fertilised ovum - have the Cells removed from fertilised ovum - have the

potential to develop into a blastocytepotential to develop into a blastocyte

If implanted can develop into a child. If implanted can develop into a child.

Genetically identical monozygotic twins Genetically identical monozygotic twins

The embryo can be spilt only a limited The embryo can be spilt only a limited

number of times, and a “clone’ is not number of times, and a “clone’ is not

produced.produced.

Somatic Cell Nuclear TransferSomatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Nuclear TransferNuclear Transfer1. Extract DNA from oocyte (egg)1. Extract DNA from oocyte (egg)

2. Extract DNA from donor cell 2. Extract DNA from donor cell

3. Inject DNA into empty oocyte and 3. Inject DNA into empty oocyte and

fuse with electricityfuse with electricity

4. After a few division in culture, im4. After a few division in culture, im

plant in surrogate motherplant in surrogate mother

Somatic Cell Nuclear TransferSomatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Egg Donor Donor Egg

Person to be Somatic cell cloned Fig 1. Schematic representation of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Remove nucleus

Somatic cell nucleus fused with enuceleated egg

EMBRYO

Cloning and MedicineCloning and Medicine

Therapeutic CloningTherapeutic Cloning• Cloning allows for specific genetic engiCloning allows for specific genetic engi

neering because one modified cell groneering because one modified cell grows into an entire organ / organismws into an entire organ / organism

Reproductive CloningReproductive Cloning• Cloning makes new people from an aduCloning makes new people from an adu

lt celllt cell

History of CloningHistory of Cloning

Clonaid - announced Clonaid - announced first clone baby born first clone baby born on December 26, 200on December 26, 2002 – thought to be a h2 – thought to be a hoax by Raelian moveoax by Raelian movementment

Ways in which cloning may be Ways in which cloning may be expected to benefit mankind:expected to benefit mankind:

Infertility treatmentInfertility treatment

Plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic Plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic

surgerysurgery

Therapeutic CloningTherapeutic Cloning • can can ggrow whole organs – alleviate organ row whole organs – alleviate organ

shortageshortage

• Grow non-regenerating cellsGrow non-regenerating cells Brain cells for Parkinson’sBrain cells for Parkinson’s Pancreatic islet cells for DiabetesPancreatic islet cells for Diabetes

DrawbacksDrawbacks

Reproductive cloningReproductive cloning• Low efficiencyLow efficiency

• Abnormalities riskAbnormalities risk

Therapeutic CloningTherapeutic Cloning• Cloned cells may be more Cloned cells may be more

vigorous and therefore at vigorous and therefore at

greater risk of becoming greater risk of becoming

cancerouscancerous

• Shorten when cell divShorten when cell divides (except cancer cides (except cancer cells)ells)

Old and New Ethical DilemmasOld and New Ethical Dilemmas

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)• Accepted by societyAccepted by society

AbortionAbortion• Legal, if contestedLegal, if contested

Ethical ObjectionsEthical Objections

TheologicalTheological• Playing God, Taking lifePlaying God, Taking life

TechnicalTechnical• Failures and deformities – unsafe (for now)Failures and deformities – unsafe (for now)

Creepy ApplicationsCreepy Applications• Parent from beyond the graveParent from beyond the grave• Headless organ donorsHeadless organ donors

IdentityIdentity• Is clone a distinct person from DNA donor? Is clone a distinct person from DNA donor? • Human right to a unique identityHuman right to a unique identity• Treating People As ObjectsTreating People As Objects

FreedomFreedom• Freedom of Scientific InquiryFreedom of Scientific Inquiry

Ethical Concerns about Human Cloning

Possible physical harm to embryo:• Current technology is not safe enough.

• Additional experimentation on other mammals should be done until the margin of error is reduced to equal the current risk of miscarriage or infant death.

Possible psychological harms to the child:• Cloned children may suffer a diminished sense of individualit

y and personal autonomy.

• Conversely, human clones will have the advantage early in life of knowing what they are good at.

Possible degradation of the quality of life:• Cloning may encourage parents to value their children accord

ing to how well they meet expectations; I.e., no unconditional love.

• Conversely, as the only way some infertile couples might reproduce, expectations would not be an issue.

Use of scarce resources:• Cloning would only benefit infertile couples.• Scarce resources should fund projects that are likely to benefi

t the common good.• Conversely, research knowledge might help discover disease

cures, improve reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization, etc.

Legislative:• Freedom of personal autonomy, freedom of reproductive cho

ice, and freedom of scientific inquiry should prohibit lawmakers from making such research illegal.

• Conversely, the government has the authority to override these rights of individuals as it has done in the past; e.g., with polygamy and abortion.