Benefits of Cloning

Paper Summary:

This paper provides an overview of cloning and an analysis of the potential benefits to be realized through cloning technology. An assessment of the possible negative consequences and the impact of cloning technology is followed by a discussion of possible alternative approaches. The paper then presents the viewpoints of opponents to cloning. A summary of the research and salient findings are presented in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Analysis
History and Background of Cloning
Possible Negative Consequences and their Consequences
Alternative Solutions
Rebuttals of Opponents
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Cloning is a fundamental component of the biological processes of the majority of living things because the body cells of plants and animals are actually clones that are derived from the mitosis of a single fertilized egg (Baird, 2002). According to this author, "A clone is the name for a group of organisms or other living matter with exactly the same genetic material. The word clone has been applied to cells as well as to organisms, so a group of cells stemming from a single cell is also called a clone. Cloning is the production of an exact genetic duplicate of a living organism or cell" (Baird, 2002, p. 20). For many observers today, though, the processes involved in cloning can be confusing and may not be able to be satisfied with a simple definition. Nevertheless, cloning frequently takes place in the natural world without any human involvement; for instance, in humans and other higher animals, clones develop naturally through genetically identical multiple births (Baird, 2002). Single-celled organisms including bacteria, protozoa, and yeast, also produce genetically identical offspring through asexual reproduction; offspring from these organisms develop from only one parent and are therefore considered to be clones (Baird, 2002). Likewise, plants are able to reproduce asexually through a process called vegetative propagation and a number of plants exhibit this ability by producing suckers, tubers, or bulbs to colonize the area surrounding the parent. In addition, simple animals such as hydras and flatworms can be cloned through asexual reproduction or the process of regeneration (Baird, 2002). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baird, S. L. (2002). Technological literacy and human cloning. The Technology Teacher, 62(3), 19.
• Bedford-Strohm, H. (2002). Sacred Body? Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. The Ecumenical Review, 54(3), 240.
• Childress, J. F. (2003). Human cloning and human dignity: The Report of the President's Council on Bioethics. The Hastings Center Report, 33(3), 15.
• Dresser, R. (2003). Human cloning and the FDA. The Hastings Center Report, 33(3), 7.
• Fiester, A. (2005). Creating Fido's twin: Can pet cloning be ethically justified? The Hastings Center Report, 35(4), 34-5.

More papers on Benefits of Cloning:

• Argumentative Essay # 105511 : "Benefits of Stem Cell Research"
• Argumentative Essay # 3327 : "Ethics and Benefits of Human Cloning"
• Argumentative Essay # 132932 : "Dangers of Cloning"

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