Running head: CLONING: HISTORY, TYPES, AND ETHICAL CONCERNS 1
Cloning: History, Types, and Ethical Concerns
Cloning: Introduction and Definition
Simply put, a clone is a genetic replica of the original cell, tissue line, individual, or
animal. Cloning occurs naturally. For example, cancer cells are monoclonal, although they will
mutate often. Identical twins contain genetic information, but as can be seen in Lyonization,
where some of the X expression is dampened, or coat pattern, which can be phenotypic, clones
may in fact vary a bit. Organisms that reproduce asexually are also clones. As Simon et al.
explain, these cells merely use mitosis (ordinary cell division) to reproduce (2010). These
organisms are at an advantage when the environment is stable and has few demands; such a
population can reproduce quickly. However, in the face of changing environmental pressures,
organisms can use mutation and gene mixing to create variety that will possibly be successful.
Scientists can also create clones artificially through biotechnological approaches.
Cloning came to the forefront of public dialogue in 1997, when Dolly the sheep was
cloned at the Roslin Institute (Kashyap, 2001). Shortly thereafter, President Clinton asked the
National Bioethics Advisory Commission to study the ethical and legal ramifications of cloning.
The following year, Dr. Richard Seed obtained four willing couples and a team of doctors who
were willing to attempt human cloning, prompting Congress to outlaw the practice when the aim
is to produce a viable human being (Fairbanks, 2004). Ethical considerations can vary based on
technique and goals, as we will see.
Tissue cloning involves copies of specific strands of DNA, which are inserted into a
“vector” that will reproduce the genetic segments. Humans or animals can either be cloned
through blastomere separation (splitting of the embryo) or somatic cell nuclear transfer
technology, which uses a somatic cell from a grown individual. Although there could be
different goals for cloning of this type, from ego to economics, the stated goal usually involves
therapeutic cloning to treat diseases or whole reproduction (Cibelli et al., 2002).
Advantages and Disadvantages to Cloning
There are a few, I would not call them drawbacks per se, but rather hurtles to cloning.
Most cloning efforts end in failure, with only a 10% success rate (Paterson, 2002). The resultant
animals often suffer from genetic abnormalities and die prematurely, so one of the ethical issues
at hand is the expense and the visitation of disease and death on a human being created in this
way. Many animals that are cloned suffer from large offspring syndrome, where the animals and
their organs are larger than their normative species. This can create breathing and bleeding
problems (Paterson, 2002). Cloning also requires an advanced skill set with years of training,
adding to its expense. Part of why cloning has such a dismal success rate is that microinjection
of an embryo is a stressful process in which many die. Of course, for ethical reasons some
consider cloning human beings to be unethical, mostly because they feel it violates the sanctity
of life (which they also felt about “test tube” babies, until this population was old enough to
advocate for itself).
The benefits of cloning are myriad. For animal cloning, it can help to maintain an
individual of superior breeding stock. This is not so important when it comes to a male who can
produce millions of gametes, but for a female who can only brood once a season there are
economic benefits. While some telomere lengths are shortened in clones, others have longer
telomeres and longer lifespan (Paterson, 2002). If we can perfect this technique, longer life can
be yet another advantage to being a clone. For humans, cloning can help to cure disease because
a patient’s immune system may reject stem cells unless they come from the patient’s own
Cloning: History, Types, and Ethical Concerns
Cloning: Introduction and Definition
Simply put, a clone is a genetic replica of the original cell, tissue line, individual, or
animal. Cloning occurs naturally. For example, cancer cells are monoclonal, although they will
mutate often. Identical twins contain genetic information, but as can be seen in Lyonization,
where some of the X expression is dampened, or coat pattern, which can be phenotypic, clones
may in fact vary a bit. Organisms that reproduce asexually are also clones. As Simon et al.
explain, these cells merely use mitosis (ordinary cell division) to reproduce (2010). These
organisms are at an advantage when the environment is stable and has few demands; such a
population can reproduce quickly. However, in the face of changing environmental pressures,
organisms can use mutation and gene mixing to create variety that will possibly be successful.
Scientists can also create clones artificially through biotechnological approaches.
Cloning came to the forefront of public dialogue in 1997, when Dolly the sheep was
cloned at the Roslin Institute (Kashyap, 2001). Shortly thereafter, President Clinton asked the
National Bioethics Advisory Commission to study the ethical and legal ramifications of cloning.
The following year, Dr. Richard Seed obtained four willing couples and a team of doctors who
were willing to attempt human cloning, prompting Congress to outlaw the practice when the aim
is to produce a viable human being (Fairbanks, 2004). Ethical considerations can vary based on
technique and goals, as we will see.
Tissue cloning involves copies of specific strands of DNA, which are inserted into a
“vector” that will reproduce the genetic segments. Humans or animals can either be cloned
through blastomere separation (splitting of the embryo) or somatic cell nuclear transfer
technology, which uses a somatic cell from a grown individual. Although there could be
different goals for cloning of this type, from ego to economics, the stated goal usually involves
therapeutic cloning to treat diseases or whole reproduction (Cibelli et al., 2002).
Advantages and Disadvantages to Cloning
There are a few, I would not call them drawbacks per se, but rather hurtles to cloning.
Most cloning efforts end in failure, with only a 10% success rate (Paterson, 2002). The resultant
animals often suffer from genetic abnormalities and die prematurely, so one of the ethical issues
at hand is the expense and the visitation of disease and death on a human being created in this
way. Many animals that are cloned suffer from large offspring syndrome, where the animals and
their organs are larger than their normative species. This can create breathing and bleeding
problems (Paterson, 2002). Cloning also requires an advanced skill set with years of training,
adding to its expense. Part of why cloning has such a dismal success rate is that microinjection
of an embryo is a stressful process in which many die. Of course, for ethical reasons some
consider cloning human beings to be unethical, mostly because they feel it violates the sanctity
of life (which they also felt about “test tube” babies, until this population was old enough to
advocate for itself).
The benefits of cloning are myriad. For animal cloning, it can help to maintain an
individual of superior breeding stock. This is not so important when it comes to a male who can
produce millions of gametes, but for a female who can only brood once a season there are
economic benefits. While some telomere lengths are shortened in clones, others have longer
telomeres and longer lifespan (Paterson, 2002). If we can perfect this technique, longer life can
be yet another advantage to being a clone. For humans, cloning can help to cure disease because
a patient’s immune system may reject stem cells unless they come from the patient’s own
