Dear Hasting Center:
Several years ago, Thomas H. Murray, Ph.D., Commissioner, and your previous head of the National Bioethics Committee, wrote “Even If It Worked, Cloning Wouldn't Bring Her Back” (Murray). In his article, he wrote a sad, yet powerful story that taught why human cloning should be banned back in 2001.
In the past, methods on human cloning have not been successful because of various reasons (United States). As a result, the debated on human cloning has slowly died after a decade since Dolly’s birth in 1997.
Ever since the debate on human cloning has stopped, you too have closed the case on human cloning as well. However, I suggest that you should open up the issue again because of a recent success in China.
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| Zhongzhong and Huahua, the first monkeys cloned in January 2018. |
Introduction
In January 2018, methods in cloning in primates, our closest neighbors, were discovered (Ritter).
Because of this discovery, I believe that we should seriously consider the consequences of human cloning and determine whether we should allow it or not.
In my opinion, I believe we should allow human cloning because of stem cell research.
Ever since the discovery of stem cells, scientists have hailed stem cell research as the “ultimate answer to cure incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other conditions that leave vital organs like heart or nerves damaged beyond repair” (Richards).
However, one challenge that scientists face in stem cell research is that stem cells are being rejected from the body because of the same reasons found when transplanting organs. (“Bioethical Issues - Stem Cells.”)
To solve this problem, many scientists believe that by borrowing the ideas of human cloning, scientists could genetically create stem cells that are familiar to the body, to make them “rejection” proof. (“How Stem Cell Cloning Works.”)
Allowing the Past to Teach Us
I understand that there are many ethical issues that arise from human cloning, but throughout history, many people have argued that it is important that we improve humanity first beyond all else. Here are two historical figures' views that I think we should consider:
- The Enlightenment – A rational World: John Locke wrote an essay called “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” In his essay, he explains that our knowledge is not born with us, but it can be created (Locke). Because we do not know if cloned stem cells can replace cloned organ, it is something we should discover!
- Empire & Industry – Science in Society: Charles Darwin wrote an essay called “Darwin’s The Origin of Species and The Descent of Man.” In his essay, he explains why he did his work. Although many did fear his work, he said, “We are not here concerned with hopes or fears, only with the truth as far as our reasons permits us to discover it; and I have given the evidence to the best of my ability” (Darwin 366). Darwin shows that we need to do our best in discovering truths, and if we have the options to pursue it, we should do it. Hence, this would be another reason why we should pursue human cloning in stem cell research.
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| Here's a word art that I created by taking words from Pope's "Essay of Man" highlighting key words in his essay for a self-directed learning (9/26/19). |
However, I do understand that throughout history there were those who opposed scientific discoveries. For example, in the “Essay of Man,” written during the Renaissance period, Pope, the author, emphasized, although he was ‘happy’ that people were coming to better understand God's creations through science, he also saw that man was being intoxicated by this power has begun to think that he could 'imitate God' (Pope).
Furthermore, from a modern perspective, I really liked Daniel Brock's post, a peer in my class, during the Enlightenment era. After listening to a podcast called “The Problem With Self-Help and "Life Coaching"” (Brett), he said, “I thought it was interesting because it really questioned the methods and ideas behind human progress. It talked about the loss of values and moral that has come with progress. It especially talked about how our mindset as humans has gone from doing something because it's the right thing to do or because we should do it to doing something for other motives getting into the mentality of what's in it for me.”
Conclusion
Although human cloning may be ethically wrong or selfishly wanted it, we need to explore it to create stem cells that can save the “114,000 people in the United States are currently on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant.” (“Facts and Myths about Transplant.”)
Works Cited:
Bioethical Issues - Stem Cells, http://www.bioethics.org.au/Resources/Resource Topics/Stem Cells.html.
Brett. “The Problem With Self-Help and ‘Life Coaching’: Art of Manliness.” The Art of Manliness, 30 Nov. 2019, https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/podcast-535-the-problem-of-self-help-in-a-liquid-age/.
Darwin, Charles. The Origin of Species. Vintage, 2019.
“How Stem Cell Cloning Works (Infographic).” LiveScience, Purch, https://www.livescience.com/32079-how-stem-cell-cloning-works-infographic.html.
Locke, John. “Online Library of Liberty.” The Works of John Locke, Vol. 1 (An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Part 1) - Online Library of Liberty, https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/locke-the-works-vol-1-an-essay-concerning-human-understanding-part-1.
Murray, Thomas H. “Even If It Worked, Cloning Wouldn't Bring Her Back.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 8 Apr. 2001, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2001/04/08/even-if-it-worked-cloning-wouldnt-bring-her-back/b361ec6b-43a8-49c4-b1ea-fffb0f657149/.
Pope, Alexander. “An Essay on Man: Epistle I by Alexander Pope.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44899/an-essay-on-man-epistle-i.
Richards, Erin. “Do We Still Need Embryonic Stem Cells?” LiveScience, Purch, https://www.livescience.com/5169-embryonic-stem-cells.html.
Ritter, Malcolm. “Scientists Successfully Clone Monkeys; Are Humans up next?” Scientists Successfully Clone Monkeys; Are Humans up next? | Center for Genetics and Society, https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article/scientists-successfully-clone-monkeys-are-humans-next.
United States. National Bioethics Advisory Commission. and Murray, Thomas H. Statement of Thomas H. Murray, Ph.D., Commissioner, National Bioethics Advisory Commission [electronic resource] : testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations United States House of Representatives March 28, 2001 National Bioethics Advisory Commission [Washington, D.C.] 2001
This is a very interesting read! You provided a lot of great facts and references about this issue which made it more credible. You also made it easy for a non-science major to understand (like me). I felt like it would help if you put in more facts about organ cloning. For example you gave a statistic in the conclusion (114,000 people). I think it would have been more helpful earlier in the post. Additionally, I admire how you were able to link this issue to other scientific debates in history. However, I think you didn't need to put so much material about past scientists. I would have focused more on the present time period and put in a couple quotes from past scientists instead of whole paragraphs. Also, I would like to note that we bolded themes from the different time periods- not the time period itself. For example, I think the theme of human rights would be applicable for your post. Overall, I think you did an awesome job!
ReplyDeleteDane, what an intriguing topic! The idea of being able to grow cloned organs for people in need is really enticing. However, I think there are some major ethical dilemmas that your post could have addressed more. For example, if Chinese scientists have been able to clone entire monkeys, are they far from cloning a human being? Monkeys and humans are close to genetically identical, so it seems like a small step to go from monkey to human cloning. Cloning an entire human is a very complicated game. There are so many ways it could be abused, like wealthy crime syndicates cloning people to sell as slaves or elderly couples cloning their spouses. While cloning an organ isn’t on this level, it does move in that direction. This introduces a conflict in the two enlightenment values of progress and human rights. As science progresses to the point of cloning entire humans, will human rights be eroded? Who will be responsible for a cloned being?
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