Human Cloning

[Gonzo]

We've all seen the b-grade scifi thriller where clones are exact duplicates of their donor. They are able to step in & take over where the donor left off. That is impossible, at least until we're able to do a "6th Day" & also clone the precise wiring of the brain. Which is rather far off I'd venture to guess.

With all the war news, this topic seems to have gotten lost in the fray. Our current Prez is fully against it. My guesss is, he saw too many of those movies. He wants it banned-period.

By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush called on the Senate Wednesday to pass legislation banning all human cloning, including the cloning of embryos for research and treatment of diseases.

"Life is creation, not a commodity," Bush said in a speech to 175 doctors, scientists, lawmakers, religious activists and disabled people.

"Advances in new biotechnology must never come at the expense of human conscience," he said. "As we seek what is possible, we must always ask what is right, and we must not forget that even the most noble ends do not justify any means."

The House in July passed a ban on all human cloning — the production of embryos that are the genetic twin of a donor.

Many in the Senate oppose using cloning to create human beings, but support using the process to create embryonic stem cells that may be used for research and the potential treatment of many diseases.

Anything short of a full ban is unethical, Bush said, and would be nearly impossible to enforce. Moreover, the success of research that could stem from cloning is "highly speculative."

Most Americans oppose cloning, said Bush, whose conservative base favors a ban.

The use of embryonic stem cells is controversial because extracting the cells kills a living human embryo. Bush decided in August that federal funding would be permitted only for stem cell cultures that then existed and were made from embryos that were to be discarded by fertility clinics.

The public overwhelmingly opposes scientific experimentation on the cloning of human beings, according to a new poll that also suggests public opinion is mixed on stem cell research.

Nearly four out of five people opposed cloning, while one-third of those polled were against federal funding of stem cell research, according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

The poll of 2,002 adults was taken Feb. 25-March 10 and had an error margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Sounds like when they first put a transplanted heart into a patient. Also like "test tube babies". Both were railed against as"playing God". Now they are proven, everyday miracles of medicine. Hell, they aren't even miracles anymore. They are necessities of modern life.

What little I understand about cloning, they don't allow a fetus to develop before doing the scientific stuff. It's just divided a few times & then they remove what they need to grow new parts.

If you or a loved one needed, say, a heart valve, using this technology, you could grow your own, with no chance of it being rejected since it contains all your (or their) DNA. Same with other organs & even limbs are possible.Imagine, 3rd degree burns over 70% of your body & they could just grow new skin for you.

I think, so far, it sounds like a medical marvel, a scientic acheivement waiting to happen for the betterment of mankind. As for the ban-how about banning cloning for reproduction? Let science take us where it can...


What say ye, o' people of the global connection?

 

[PostCode]

He's a stauch republican. You expected less?

 

[Bronto]

Had to be 15 years ago, read a book that was 8 years before that published. Subject ' Cloning '. All things written are now done. Except for Organ cloning and womb ingubators. Remember back then with the impression was, this stuff is going too far. But everytime it becomes a reality, it is far less disturbing.
The standard male female reproduction. All these reproductive breakthroughs are making things allot less Fun
Ethicaly personaly Humans are being devalued by these practices. One of the scientists had it slip, 'clones aren't really human. Implying they'll become commodities, like live stock.
Then there is further advancements, that imagine Human and animal beast hybrids. Probably something like Centors, half human half horse. They could deliever the US mail easier
It all gets extremely nasty, ever more abominable.
Some ask when will it all end ? answer is when the Funding stops.
regards Bronto

 

[Q]

Oooh, I wonder what happens when a centaur gets disgruntled and goes postal?

Definately ban cloning for reproduction, but not for research and development.