Science & Technology

Cloned Dolly and the Korean

BY OSCAR E. V. Fernando

CLONING is for real. It was first the lamb called Dolly, then the kittens and now a human created in a test tube and then killed after obtaining its stem cells. The UK is next on line to clone humans.

To get a glimpse at least on the subject of cloning and stem cell research one may need to know broadly terms such as:

Stem cells are master cells in the body that can grow into other types of cells. Through various transformations of stem cells, formed into an embryo in vitro-meaning outside a natural womb-the term cloning is derived to mean a reproduction of a biological entity which is genetically identical to the one from which it originated.

Embryos in vitro are manufactured in laboratories for research and for cloning by 'fabricating' the cells, so to say, to form a fetus for later placement in a natural womb. Fortunately or unfortunately-but significantly experiments to manufacture a prototype of a natural womb have failed-so far.

DNA is stated to carry genetic information of organic cells that determines hereditary characteristics and is specific to any individual as its thumb print.

A creature so formed with this biotechnology combined with DNA is called a cloned child and could be so manipulated to be a prototype of a child one has in mind.

Embryos so manufactured are used for reproductive cloning to be adopted as a child or for therapeutic cloning-to form such a creature and thereafter kill it to store stem cells for future usage.

Sky is the limit for discoveries and inventions-but the sky has no limit. Discoveries and inventions-aren't these the same? Both are in existence until humans pry into it and bring it to the open. At times curiosity kills the cat.

There is no denying that science plays a very significant role in society and its advancement enhances the quality of life. But however anthrax too, is consequent upon advancement of science!

The world today is chaotic and this chaos seems to increase by the day, in spite of the industrial revolution-the internet revolution and now a biotechnological revolution, amidst hunger poverty and rampant terrorism-seen almost in the form of a Frankenstein Monster. Truly it would seem that we are trying to gain the whole world by suffering the loss of our own souls!

Bioethics experts have clearly distinguished embryonic stem cell research that destroys human lives at the embryonic stage, and adult stem cell research.

The letter is encouraged but the former is discouraged due to destruction of life. It has so far been found that adult stem cell research has greatly enhanced quality of life of the sick, unlike embryonic stem cell research that have not gone far in helping humanity in spite of the heavy price paid for it in a humane sense.

Animals cloned so far have been a lamb named 'Dolly' and some kittens. It is said that Dolly's life span was very short and ended after many a disease.

Whilst heated debates continue, South Korea has cloned a human being and extracted embryonic stem cells maturing it in a test tube. Eggs have been 'donated' by a Korean woman.

These scientists however have said that embryonic stem cells are of far greater use than adult stem cells but have cautioned that years of further research will go in before these are turned out to be effectual therapies. This implies that to this extent several more fetuses will have to be destroyed.

Perhaps we would see in the not so distant future a generation of such cloned individuals or colonies of such-devoid of a known genealogy-knowing they come from fabricated embryos-unable to relate to natural children who perhaps would talk of their great and the greatest known grandparents.

How would such a generation contribute to world peace harmony and love? How would they take to a later revealed fabricated embryo from which they came? With such mentalities so far unknown, would these individuals or colonies of them with shared interests turn out to be human-subhuman or superhuman? Perhaps when we witness this the world would be more chaotic than now!

Cloning would be a step towards a fountain of youth, by taking a human being's DNA and reversing its age back to zero, thus insinuating immortality, as cloning merely re-creates the genes of the ancestor, not what he has learned or experienced so that a cloned prototype of one could get a planned head start that he/she did not have.

If one feels that parents were bad in any way, one can choose good parents for one's cloned prototype.

A Child's right to be better than its parents is suggested.

Infertile couples may have a cloned child that meets their requirements. That freedom is something to be used to join in this type of research to reap its benefits in the advancement of science. Human cloning could allow two gay men or women to truly have a baby of their own with stem cell-cloning and DNA technologies!

Those opposing point out;

Cloned creatures are not the same as test tube babies as the embryo is not subject to laboratory fabrication to form a clone that would produce a prototype in one's mind. Therefore the two are not of equal status though proponents of cloning belabour to say so.

Bio ethic researches deem that stem cells from spare embryos are not the same as spare parts of a car what of a child's feelings to be thought of as a cloned product of some stored embryo?

The advantage for humanity in researching adult stem cells is accepted but not killing a life to cure another when we see heroic deeds around us where people risk their lives to save another's.

They aptly say that there are no lives unworthy of being lived or sufferings that can justify the suppression of a life, and no justifiable reasons to create a human destined to be destroyed to harvest stem cells.

A human being has unlimited freedom, no doubt. However one is reminded of Lord Acton's admonition to that youth - 'Your freedom to swing your fist ends where my nose begins'.

There is freedom to build the highest skyscraper in the world and also to jump from it. There also is freedom for some others to crash through it with jet planes! But should we tinker with such freedom or even encourage others to do so?

Truth and justice they say should be directed for human progress and not to manipulate realities in the natural order. By and large how would you simply take to it, when some profiteer would want your own duplicate to do some spying to make money and so complicate your personal and family life with a person with your body - even if not the 'soul' roaming the globe haunting you for a time?

Do not Courts of Law look to a concept called equity in cases where statutory law does not support a verdict?

And equity is defined as 'fairness; recourse to principles of justice to correct or supplement the law'. Probing further, natural justice would connote something constant and perpetual to give to every human being what is his/her due with an inherent obligation of charity, gratitude, or kindness?

Are these concepts of equity codified in any text book or are they not to be tinkered with? Some also call it the 'eternal wisdom of the middle ages'.

Chaotic events we see all around us would urge one to question even a non believer-in a natural moral code - as to the consequent dangers of meddling with Mother Nature, or eating that forbidden apple!