Cloning

 

There are two types of cloning. 

In one instance -- therapeutic cloning - stem cells are harvested from embryos.  A stem cell can develop into any kind of mature functional cell.

In the second case -- nuclear transfer -- "a nucleus from any cell of a donor is embedded in an egg (human or animal) from which that nucleus has been removed."

"Opponents of the procedure point that when a treated human egg is placed in a woman's womb a cloned, a baby will be born nine months later that is a replica of the donor.  If the donor of the nucleus and the egg was the woman, the process is known as "auto-cloning."

Cloning used in conjuction with other bio-technologies raises serious ethical questions.

(www.knol.google)

 

As pro-life people, what ethical, moral issues do we see developing from these techniques?

--  in therapeutic cloning are we concerned that the human embryo has to die to give rise to a new acientific technique that might develop organs for transplant? 

What value do we place on the human embryo?

-- in the case of nuclear transfer, when do we consider it ok to invade the clone to harvest organs that will help sustain the life of the donor? 

Will a clone have any rights as a 'human'?

What relationship is a clone to other family members,

to society?

 

What other concerns do you think will arise?