Cloning

Facts:
Cloning is the method of producing a baby that has the identical genes to one person. The possibility of human cloning, raised when Scottish scientists at Roslin Institute created the much-celebrated sheep "Dolly", aroused worldwide interest and concern because of its scientific and ethical implications. The feat, cited by Science magazine as the breakthrough of 1997, also generated uncertainty over the meaning of "cloning" --an umbrella term traditionally used by scientists to describe different processes for duplicating biological material.
What is cloning? Are there different types of cloning?
When the media report on cloning in the news, they are usually talking about only one type called reproductive cloning. There are different types of cloning however, and cloning technologies can be used for other purposes besides producing the genetic twin of another organism. A basic understanding of the different types of cloning is key to taking an informed stance on current public policy issues and making the best possible personal decisions. The following three types of cloning technologies will be discussed: (1) recombinant DNA technology or DNA cloning, (2) reproductive cloning, and (3) therapeutic cloning.


Pros:
Cloning is a wonderous discovery that enables an animal to have an exact copy of itself. Cloning stem cells might provide medical break-throughs. Stem cells can become any cell in the human body. Having more stem cells will make up for cells lost or damaged. Cloning can be perfected in humans and create a person with genes of the cloner's choice. Also, with cloning you can create someone with super-natural powers using cloning. Cloning can add to the understanding of genetics. This can lead to more scientific discoveries in the future. Livestock can be cloned to make more food in the world. If cloning is not abused, it can become a great edition to our life.

Cons:
Cloning is a great discovery, but should be limited. If too many people are cloned in the same place, there could be a group, city, or even country of clones with the same genetics. If any sicknes effected some of the population, the entire population would die. Cloning is too time wasting and expensive. Too much time and money will be spent on money instead of spending it on important stuff. In cloning, viruses can be transfered into clones, passed to humans in products, and spread throughout the world.If you are concerned about your effert and health, you'll be against cloning.


Religious Factors:
Religion is among the more powerful factors that shape attitudes toward human cloning. This is an interesting empirical fact that deserves sociological scrutiny in its own right, both to document the extent of this influence statistically and to explore its intellectual roots either in theology or in the cultural environments surrounding particular religions.
But it is also relevant to major theoretical developments in contemporary social science of religion. This article will introduce data from a major survey carried out on the World Wide Web, with the proviso that more elaborate statistical analysis should be carried out in the future. To a great extent, the data speak for themselves. But this article also offers a theoretical interpretation, rooted in the New Paradigm of the sociology of religion.

Comments by Christian religious groups:
They believe that a soul enters the body at the instant of conception, and that the fertilized ovum is in fact a human person with full human rights. Dividing that "baby" into half during an embryo cloning procedure would interfere with God's intent.
Reaffirm their belief in the basic dignity and uniqueness of each human being under God.

Cloning Ethics
People have conflicting views of the government's actions and they have proved to be controversial. The federal government should have regulated human cloning instead of banning it. There are significant benefits that can result from the technologies of cloning. Bypass of infertility is one of the most promising benefits. This technique would be better than relying on organ transplants from other people.
But through therapeutic cloning patients will not have to take anti-rejection drugs. They would be derived from the patient him/herself and the immune system would recognize the cells as the bodies own. Therapeutic cloning would save countless numbers of lives, and increase the quality of life of many others.