By Anya Lotun
Introduction
Clones already exist in nature, like the offspring of single-cell organisms. But what happens when scientists artificially influence biology and create clones that are not a product of the natural world? Cloning is a procedure scientists have begun to explore that raises many questions due to its benefits and drawbacks. Though it is a controversial topic, a deeper look can display the potential benefits and drawbacks for an informed perspective.
Benefits of Cloning
The positives of cloning include solutions to medical problems and animal endangerment. According to National Geographic, a cloned embryo can be used as stem cells, which can grow into different cells and tissues, such as nerve cells. With these nerve cells, scientists could fix a damaged spinal cord. Furthermore, cloning could be used to save endangered species from extinction in an effort to restore the natural order.
Drawbacks of Cloning
Like many scientific advancements, cloning has its drawbacks. Some scientists argue that the benefits of cloning do not outweigh the costs. For example, though cloning could save endangered species, there is a concern that the species will not survive without genetic variability. Furthermore, the question of ethics continuously arises: are humans entitled to manipulate the natural course of life, and what is the moral line drawn in cloning? Also, cloning has led to negative effects in the past. Dolly, a cloned sheep, was one of 277 embryos to survive; however, she had shorter chromosomes, leading to premature death. So, efficacy and efficiency are difficult to achieve in cloning. All in all, cloning is a scientific advancement that should be seriously weighed in order to utilize the benefits it offers while keeping the negative effects in check.
Sources
1. National Human Genome Research Institute. (2020, August 15). Cloning Fact Sheet. Retrieved from National Human Genome Research Institute website: https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Cloning-Fact-Sheet
2. Cloning. (n.d.). Retrieved from education.nationalgeographic.org website: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/cloning/#