Ethical Aspects of Cloning (Coursework Sample)

Ethical Aspects of Cloning Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Name Instructor’s Name Date Ethical Aspects of Cloning Cloning is the process of producing genetically identical copies of an organism, cell, or gene. It has been a scientific and ethical debate topic since the successful cloning of the sheep Dolly in 1996 (Nishakanthi, 2019). Reproductive cloning is associated with a high possibility of death cases in humans, thus being termed unethical. The philosophical approach has equally aired its concern on human identity and the nature of production, which this idea may violate. While cloning has the potential to bring significant benefits in fields such as agriculture, medicine, and conservation, it also raises several ethical concerns. One of the main ethical concerns surrounding cloning is the potential for abuse and exploitation. Cloning could be used to create individuals with specific desired traits, leading to the possibility of a "designer baby" market (Nishakanthi, 2019). This could lead to eugenic practices and the development of a society where people’s value is based on their genetic makeup. Additionally, cloning could be used to create individuals for exploitation, such as organ harvesting or other forms of exploitation. Another ethical concern is the potential for harm to the cloned individuals. Cloning is a complex process, and there is a high rate of failure, with many cloned animals dying during gestation or shortly after birth. There is also the possibility of physical abnormalities or other health issues in cloned individuals. Any living organism experiences a high risk of death or health challenges when its normal body function is altered (Jaganathan et al., 2020). Additionally, clones may face discrimination and stigma due to their unique genetic makeup. There are also ethical concerns surrounding the use of cloning for reproductive purposes. Some argue that reproductive cloning, or the creation of a human clone, is unnatural and goes against the natural order of reproduction (Jaganathan et al., 2020). Others say that it could lead to the erosion of traditional family structures and the devaluation of the parent-child relationship. Cloning equally has the potential to bring significant benefits. In agriculture, cloning could create genetically identical livestock with desired traits, such as disease resistance or improved milk production. In medicine, cloning could produce genetically identical cells or tissues for use in transplants, potentially reducing the need for organ donors (Jaganathan et al., 2020). Cloning could also be used in conservation efforts, allowing for the reproduction of endangered species and helping to preserve genetic diversity. Cloning raises a number of ethical concerns, including the potential for abuse and exploitation, harm to cloned i...