The Pros and Cons of Cloning Group members: Halmagyi Melinda Donca Roxana Deak Noemi Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Babeş-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania January 7 th 2011

Content Introduction Definition of cloning Brief chronology Body Potential benefits/risks of cloning Point of views: Scientist Ethicist Legislator Conclusions

What is cloning? cloning ="trunk, branch“ (greek) creating genetically identical individuals types of cloning: - molecular cloning - organism cloning - human cloning

Chronology before the 1990´s – various attempts of cloning organisms 1996 – Dolly since 1997 – until our days: - many tries of cloning other animals, like dogs, mice, pigs, wolves, etc. with several successes - reserches on cloning human cells

Dolly first mammal cloned from adult DNA 1996 – 2003

Potential benefits/risks of cloning Benefits to produce organs or tissues to repair or replace the damaged ones (organ transplants) infertile couples could be able to have children reconstructive and cosmetic surgery cure genetic or other diseases

Risks highly inefficient and very expensive clones live short and unhealthy life unsafe process ( miscarriages and deformities) lose the uniqueness of every human

Points of view Scientist Scientist Ethicist Ethicist Legislator Legislator

Scientific issues the process of cloning the process of cloning

Ethical issues those who argue in favour: - curing diseases, organ transplants, avoiding genetic malformations - longer life, hopes of eternal life - anyone could have children - scientific research for the benefit of humanity

Those who argue against: - reduce the value of life - loss of individuality - confusing relationships - offensive to human dignity - would mark the cloned person more as a replacement rather than a fellow human being

Legislative issues human cloning - the source of debates by many countries the need for legislative policies is particularly great because: – –many unknowns concerning human cloning – –the absence of any effective system to license private research laboratories

without a ban, clones are exposed to “potential abuse, prejudice and discrimination” the government – protect the public health from catastrophic consequences social control is necessary

Conclusions there are a lot of benefits of cloning, but we should not forget the risks

References ningrev4.shtml ningrev4.shtml TpsXDhjnWoHHYCaP TpsXDhjnWoHHYCaP George Annas, J.D., M.P.H. “ The New England Journal of Medicine”, July 9, dlife_doc_ _clon_en.html dlife_doc_ _clon_en.html st_ _cloning_en.html st_ _cloning_en.html