Comments/Discussion
Several, more or less acceptable, alternative methods of human reproduction may be considered when completely natural means fail. I say "more or less acceptable" because there is no alternative method that everyone feels is appropriate or ethical. One experimental method of reproduction that some believe will be of future benefit to humans is that of cloning. The cloning of various plants, such as carrots, years ago, aroused little controversy. Even the efforts at cloning animals such as frogs did not cause much debate. But attempts to clone mammals has spawned considerable discussion among ethicists, theologian, philosophers, politicians, scientists, and others. Especially controversial is the possibility of cloning humans.
Click here to review an experiment done a few years ago. After you have read the short article about the experiment, click here for some comments concerning the research.
What is the history, or background, of human cloning research? What are human cloning techniques? Why clone human embryos? Click here for responses to these and other questions.
Have we actually cloned any mammals? Click here to find out!
What are the ethical considerations of this? Should we clone any higher animals, such as mammals, let alone humans? Go to this web site for a discussion of this point.
For Investigation
For each inquiry, write your thoughts in a short paragraph for later comparison.
- What is the difference between cloning and twinning?
- Have we ever actually cloned a mammal?
- Should we clone humans?
- Should we clone any higher animal, such as a mammal or a bird?
URLs
Experiment Shows Possibility of Cloning Human Beings
Human Cloning: Have Human Beings Been Cloned?
This research paper will help explain the new techniques and ethical implications of human embryo cloning
Sheep cloned by nuclear transfer from a cultured cell line
TALKING POINT - SHOULD WE CLONE ANIMALS?