Pros and Cons of Cloning

Name of Student

Name of Institution Outline
Topic: Cloning: Pros and Cons
I. Introduction
What is cloning?
Thesis statement – cloning should not be completely banned since is has positive benefits to human beings.
II. Body
A. Advantages of cloning
1. Present medicine
a. Treating cancer and Alzheimer’s
b. Organ transplant
2. Solution to infertility and aging
a. Cloning human beings for children
b. Reversing effects of aging
3. Conservation of endangered animals and food security
a. Cloning of almost extinct animals
b. Cloning livestock for food security
B. Disadvantages of cloning
1. Trial and error technique
a. Cloning of dolly
b. Possibility of failure
2. Transfer of diseases and abnormalities
3. Disregard for life and God
III. Conclusion
A. Logical Summary
B. Reworded thesis statement
C. closing Statement

Pros and Cons of Cloning
Cloning is explained as the process in which a precise genetic copy of another cell, tissue or organism is created. The genetic make up of the copied material is identical to the original and it is known as a clone. Cloning takes place naturally during the formation of identical twins. The first living thing to be cloned was a sheep known as Dolly at the Roslin Institute in Scotland by Ian Wilmut (Devolder ,1-4). In my opinion cloning should not be completely banned because even if it has disadvantages it also has positive benefits.
Cloning has advantages and disadvantages. Cloning has possible benefits to present medicine given the reality that cells can easily be manipulated to imitate other kinds of cells, hence presenting innovative techniques of treating ailments such Alzheimer’s and malignancy (Devolder ,1-4). This process also gives hope to patients who require transplantation of organs. Livers from pigs have been transplanted to human beings with success and cloning could provide more animals for organ transplant without suppressing the food supply in the world (Devolder ,1-4). Cloning has the potential to offer childless couples a chance to have children of their own. Despite cloning having been banned by some states due to ethical reasons, more childless couples are considering cloning as a way of having children since most of the other existing techniques are failing. Cloning is being thought of as the answer to reverse the effects of aging and with the anti-aging market already being a multibillion industry; it is prime target for cloning (Rantala and Milgram ,21). Cloning could also offer a solution to conservation of endangered species some of which are nearing extinction. With the triumphant cloning of Dolly the sheep, it is possible to clone livestock so as to deal with food insecurity. In the same respect, cloning may provide a way of cultivating stronger, disease resistant and highly productive crops to deal with the problem of food shortage and drought (Lauritzen ,283). Cloning has advantages as we have seen above; however, it also has its disadvantages. Cloning is more of a trial and error technique since it has a lot of uncertainties, for instance, in the case of Dolly, there were two hundred and seventy seven eggs used for the cloning process but only one was a success. Two hundred and seventy six embryos were destroyed before Dolly was born, this may be painful and traumatizing to a couple trying to get a child through cloning. This will, definitely, not sit well with some religions and social believes since it may be considered as disregard for life (Humber and Almeder ,43). There is a high chance that a clone will inherit genetic traits from its predecessor since it is an identical copy of its predecessor. These traits include genetically acquired diseases and abnormalities. Further, there would be an issue of what laws govern cloning, or who has the right to do a clone. There would problems in deciding how far one is allowed to go with cloning. Cloning would be an issue of debate when it comes to human rights especially the right to life. For example, consider what would happen to an imperfect human clone? It would be difficult to decide if an imperfect clone should be allowed to live or be destroyed like a poor quality product (Rantala and Milgram ,21). Although cloning would help medically in creating clones for production of organs for transplanting, this would give cloning a farm like viewpoint where life is created for the purpose of growing organs after which that life is then terminated. This will further increase the potential of devaluing human life and/or other forms of life. In respect to religion, cloning will not be fully accepted since most people may consider those involved in cloning as trying to play God (Rantala and Milgram ,21).
Summarily, cloning poses positive potential development in many areas of technology and life in general, however, cloning also poses many threats to human beings. Cloning should not be completely banned, since it has positive benefits to human beings, in my opinion, cloning should be allowed but strict regulations on how it is carried out and who is involved should be put in place. Restrictions should be put in place and not just anyone should be allowed to carry out this procedure. Cloning presents the world of technology a new field that could be manipulated to bring developments to human race. This process has the potential to save people’s lives and this should be carefully considered before banning cloning. Although this process has disadvantages the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and banning this process deprives human beings the possible benefits associated with it. The problem of infertility which causes many couples depression could be solved through cloning. Cloning also holds the possibility of solving the problem of food insecurity especially in third world countries where numerous individuals starve to death. These already give enough reason as to why cloning should be given a chance and have the necessary developments done so that it can benefit human beings.
Works Cited
Devolder, Katrien. Stanford Encyclopidia of Philosophy. 17 September 2008. 15 November 2011 .
Humber, James M. and Robert F. Almeder. "Human cloning, Volume 918." Humber, James M. and Robert F. Almeder. Human cloning, Volume 918. New York: Humana Press, 1998. 43.
Lauritzen, Paul. "Cloning and the future of human embryo research." Lauritzen, Pau. Cloning and the future of human embryo research. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. 283.
Rantala, M. L. and Arthur J. Milgram. "Cloning: for and against." Rantala, M. L. and Arthur J. Milgram. Cloning: for and against. Chicago: Open Court Publishing, 1999. 21.