Thread: Human Cloning?

I say yes but we should wait until we know more for one reason: We can't entirely clone a human being at this point anyway. We must know more to even begin.

It could cure diseases and conditions, as well as its not so much manufacturing life as it is spreading it.

(PS: Wrong type of poll )

I'll play devil's advocate by saying I support it 100%. Here are a few reasons to think about:

-If you don't experiment with cloning, the process will be very difficult to refine and perfect.
-Society still hasn't developed a clear idea of what cloning is yet, or why it's harmful. We may as well research it while everyone is making up their minds.
-A perfected cloning process would open new avenues of development in stem cell research. What if scientists could clone a zygote created from an animal egg and DNA from a human skin cell, then harvest stem cells from the result? There may yet be a morally impeccable way to create stem cells suitable for human treatment, and avoiding cloning research could prevent those methods from being discovered.
-Eventually, it may be safer and cheaper to clone and grow all fetuses in 'vats.' Could we accept higher infant mortality rates because growing them artificially is weird?

yes R.D.735 i think we should research into it and see if we can find a way to treat diseases and other health problems in a way that wont create conflict with someone’s morals positions. i dont know how much of our bad feelings about cloning stem from Hollywood’s interpretation of it.

"i dont know, they all make good points", because it is good thing - it shoots the science so far by doing this. We can cure, we can learn how to make people better, we can do like much stuff, but ( i am not some religious guy) if there is something above or if we do have a soul (cuz from what i know of astral traveling, this is basicly soul traveling) dont we copy that one soul twice. If there is place on heaven/astral planes for only one John Cryton (just example) if we clone that guy and there are two of him, who will be the real. Its like too complicated, it is probably fine, but who knows. I am sure that USA (or some other of the leading countries) is researching cloning (althought it is illeagal) in some secret laboratory, and who knows how far they are.

I voted for all of them, because it messes up the percentages in the statistics. Also, if you ignore the "yes/no" aspect of those, each and every one of those points is very valid... but mostly for the percentages . Just to clarify my vote: I think it might put less value on life (remove the "miracle" stuff hehe).

Originally Posted by Replicon

I think it might put less value on life (remove the "miracle" stuff hehe).

just out of interest, why do you think life should have value if it isnt a miracle?

Originally Posted by Matt5678

just out of interest, why do you think life should have value if it isnt a miracle?

Just out of interest, why shouldn't it?

This is a very deep issue.
There is a lot of gray area to me.

A VERY good read on this very subject is a book by Bill McKibben, "Enough" -Staying human in an engineered age.

This book brought to light many aspects of human cloning that I had never thought of before.

If we don't develop the technology, some other country will. Whether it is moral or ethical or not, it will happen.

Personally, I don't agree with it, even if it can cure life-threatening diseases. If you think about it, people who would've oridinarily died from a genetic disease, if allowed to live and procreate, will only pass these bad genes for disease onto the next generation, and so on. Natural selection and survival of the fittest will no longer be true and the gene pool will go down the shitter. Just my 2 cents.

I don't agree with the idea of cloning, animal or human. Burns brought up a good point. I also want to add that we don't know what the consequences of a cloned organism. I hesitate to say "cloned human," as we don't know if one could replicate all the facets that make up a human being (free-will, emotions, etc.)

What kind of diseases or mutations could come from something that has been cloned? With everything changing and diseases mutating as it is, why add more fuel to the fire? Sure, science is about testing and finding out why, but this is one step too far in my book. Too many loose ends.

Originally Posted by Burns

If we don't develop the technology, some other country will. Whether it is moral or ethical or not, it will happen.

Personally, I don't agree with it, even if it can cure life-threatening diseases. If you think about it, people who would've oridinarily died from a genetic disease, if allowed to live and procreate, will only pass these bad genes for disease onto the next generation, and so on. Natural selection and survival of the fittest will no longer be true and the gene pool will go down the shitter. Just my 2 cents.

We already have medicines and things that stop a lot of life threatening diseases though... So a lot of those traits are still being passed down. Plus everyone has basically every bad gene in them already from millions of years of people... Cloning would just we a better way and a for sure way to be cured. You're a vet right? You help animals that would have normally died right? So, I don't understand your point.

I voted yes, but we should wait until we know more, or w/e the choice was.

its not possible, to create, or duplicate a consciousness.

though "moving" a consciousness might be possible...

maybe somehow like when someone is possessed? or, you know, when mediums let spirits or what-not use their body, for communication or whatever.

or maybe a "soul" willl inhabit the body naturally, regardless of birth or not?..

though... im not sure if creating a body, without a self, is even possible.

though, since spiritually in scientists is somewhat.... rare, or even non-existent, this won't be happening for a while, i don't think..

Hmm, if we clone a human, and essentially build a consciounsness from a bit of DNA, what effect will that have on the "soul" people?

Originally Posted by Replicon

Hmm, if we clone a human, and essentially build a consciounsness from a bit of DNA, what effect will that have on the "soul" people?

We will loose our identity of "self"

I have not seen a POLL this close across the board in along time.

i messed up with the poll. i should have only allowed one vote per person and only allowed yes, no and maybe options

Originally Posted by Replicon

Just out of interest, why shouldn't it?

well, i know this song has been sung many times before. i know each persons family is very special to them. and i dont deny the love that human beings are capable of expressing. but if from a biological standpoint if life was just a lucky chemical reaction. why dont humans have the right to use this chemical reaction to create more life for their own advantage?

i may be walking into a grey zone here.....

Originally Posted by Michael

We already have medicines and things that stop a lot of life threatening diseases though... So a lot of those traits are still being passed down.

True, though are still many genetic diseases we can't cure. But modern medicine is allowing bad genes to continue through the disease process that can now be managed. I know it's already happening. Cloning just seems so unnatural to me. Like it's not the way life was meant to be. Yet early humans could say the same for us as well.

Originally Posted by Michael

You're a vet right? You help animals that would have normally died right?

Yes but all my patients are spayed and neutered

Originally Posted by Matt5678

i messed up with the poll. i should have only allowed one vote per person and only allowed yes, no and maybe options



well, i know this song has been sung many times before. i know each persons family is very special to them. and i dont deny the love that human beings are capable of expressing. but if from a biological standpoint if life was just a lucky chemical reaction. why dont humans have the right to use this chemical reaction to create more life for their own advantage?

i may be walking into a grey zone here.....

Ah, I see where you're coming from now.

I don't think the real value of a life is the mechanism that creates it, but more what it could be, and what it takes to get there. It just seems to me that growing up and living your life is kind of a rite of passage... to the next chapter of your life, if you follow. Making a clone with accelerated growth in an incubator, to me, is like using the Konami code and claiming you've beaten the game.

I do think that what we learn from the types of research that could lead to cloning could be of great benefit (growing organ transplants, etc.) Of course, I suppose someone else will find a way to build the clone army and wipe out the Jedi as well.

A tad off cloning itself, but a story along the same lines and the same likely effect.
Doping < > cloning - fake

I read in the paper today Marion Jones, the sprinter in the Sydney Olympics has admitted to using illegal steroids.
This got me to thinking more about the cloning topic. This will, if charged cost her the Medals she (the drugs) had one. Three gold & two bronze.
Has it become so important in our society to win, that people are willing to use something not their own to be # one? To be the best and still feel good about it. THEY know they did not accomplish their feat on their own. But it is more important to be the *star*, to look good to your friends and family, than to earn a goal on your own.
To turn to cloning, will the Jone's next door have the number one athlete in the school because they have bought their kid? A genetically enhanced embryo that is not even who they are? Meanwhile, me, next to the Jone's cannot afford to alter my kid. The poor boy or girl will just have to be. uuuh will just have to be?? well, part my wife and part myself. I think I like the concept.
Will, when the Jone's boy, Trent? Grows up and has been breaded to have blue eyes and blond hair and Adonis's like fesigue ~(sp). Will he feel as thou he has earned this? What identity will he have?
Hasn't history seen enough of these mishaps? I am speaking of Adolf Hitler.

OK, that was my spew on identity theft.
Now I must go by someone else's mounted deer head. I am to put it up in the living room to keep up my family's hunting heritage.

"It's not what you take but what you leave behind that defines greatness."
--Edward Gardner

The better side.
A genetic disease that runs in ones family. Cancer, Alzheimer's etc.
If I could, is it my responsibility as a loving parent to rid my newborn of this disease? Shit, the money that was for my kids college? Well what good is college if he won't live to enjoy his golden years any way?

Oh, who gets the gold metal now anyway ? The Silver medalist? I am sure she feels silver abundant with joy. Accomplishment?

When I was younger, the heist was over the boy who had the $100.00 pair of Air Jordans.

Tom Hanks in the movie, Saving Private Ryan - "Earn This!"

OK, I'm done

for now

I don't agree with any of the options avaliable for the poll so I wont vote. However Cloning is not the problem but I don't think the maturity of the human race deserves to be playing around with something that they can't spiritually handle properly at this time. A few are responsible enough but at this stage there is to much chaos to even be discussing this issue and it should be left to another day when the time is appropriate to discuss it. Leave it for now and consider facing the immediate problems of today.

Originally Posted by Mystic7

I don't agree with any of the options avaliable for the poll so I wont vote. However Cloning is not the problem but I don't think the maturity of the human race deserves to be playing around with something that they can't spiritually handle properly at this time. A few are responsible enough but at this stage there is to much chaos to even be discussing this issue and it should be left to another day when the time is appropriate to discuss it. Leave it for now and consider facing the immediate problems of today.

Originally Posted by Burns

If we don't develop the technology, some other country will. Whether it is moral or ethical or not, it will happen.

This makes it a problem.
As science advances we will always be unfolding new ways to prolong the inevitable, death.
How do we draw a line between this? We can call it nature that we die off and have the strong survive. We can also call our abilities to adapt and create new avenues to prolong life nature.
What is natural?

Originally Posted by Replicon

Ah, I see where you're coming from now.

I don't think the real value of a life is the mechanism that creates it, but more what it could be, and what it takes to get there. It just seems to me that growing up and living your life is kind of a rite of passage... to the next chapter of your life, if you follow. Making a clone with accelerated growth in an incubator, to me, is like using the Konami code and claiming you've beaten the game.

I do think that what we learn from the types of research that could lead to cloning could be of great benefit (growing organ transplants, etc.) Of course, I suppose someone else will find a way to build the clone army and wipe out the Jedi as well.

i think i get what your saying now. just because life might not be a miracle that doesn’t mean that people dont have the right to live and be happy.


although hasn’t Hollywood taught us anything?
all genetic experiments lead to flesh eating mutants terrorizing young attractive people on spring break

Originally Posted by Matt5678

although hasn’t Hollywood taught us anything?
all genetic experiments lead to flesh eating mutants terrorizing young attractive people on spring break

Better that than SkyNet

It needs to be controlled by a system that isn't made up of bureaucrats.

Hell yeah the world could do good with more of me!