The ethics of cloning and genetic manipulation...
 

I thought I would start a thread devoted to this, since another thread seemed to be drifting this way...

Personally I am all for cloning and genetic modification, provided a. ethics laws keep this area of research squarely in the public domain (ie. a minimal amount of patenting of genetic information), and b. the sanctity of natural life is respected, be it human or of other animals (ie. no gratuitous cloning for entertainment, private gain, it should remain strictly for the purposes of research and the gain of common society).

Where does ethics come into play if you are just cloning something for research. whether if its humans or not that is being cloned, it is still alive once cloned and its like playing God. I m not against cloning or GM or anything but I just think its wrong if you are gonna do research on the subject that you have cloned

Well I won't step into the pros and cons of human cloning yet but as far as other animals go, I think the main advantage is the ability to carefully control the qualities of the subject animal, thereby providing a more valid experimental participant, which is essential for good science. I'm not really the most religious person so the god question doesn't really come into play for me, but as with any research I think it is essential to work to eliminate any sort of suffering the research participant may feel. This is a tenet of the ethical code all reputable research institutions follow.

I've been in numerous conversations with my friends about this topic. It all started after watching the 6th Day. But we've always gone in circles around it.

In response to your first post teevee, who will control gratuitous cloning?

Well I suppose it would fall to the federal government and be regulated perhaps by a new wing of Environment Canada. In the same way that pharmaceuticals are controlled by the government, so would cloning. Given the technology required to engage in cloning, I doubt it would become an underground industry.

Well i m not just talking about humans but also animals too...Why should animals die/suffer just so it can improve our lives

going slightly off topic, do you think human's have been cloned yet?

I wouldnt be surprise if they have been...Didnt a cult of some sort say they have cloned two humans or something...it was in the news fairly recent like no more than a year ago......

http://www.clonaid.com

Damn. Check out their services. Insane.

Re: The ethics of cloning and genetic manipulation...
 

[quote="teevee"]

"cloning and genetic modification"

"the sanctity of natural life is respected" [\quote]

There is a small problem....You have to choose one OR the other. :neutral: