CBS News Health Correspondent Dr. Emily Senay reports scientists are now fast approaching the day that human cloning will be possible, but several states have already banned human cloning because there are ethical questions about cloning humans. "It is estimated there are 12 million infertile Americans" (CBSNews.com Staff CBS News). The majority can't be helped to have a baby that is biologically theirs, so some say cloning would be an alternative to this issue. Anne and Bob tried in vitro fertilization-a complex series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child, where mature eggs are collected from your ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab-to conceive a child. Anne had a miscarriage, and they were distressed. Doctors then told them the heartbreaking news that they would never have their own children. "It's worse than losing a child. It's loosing all your children," Bob said. "It's realizing that you can't ever have children and that's a horrible thought." The couple has considered adoption but can't let go of the willingness to have their own biological children. "I would like to be able to consider cloning as an option if it technically works," states Bob. However, in California, where Anne and Bob live, cloning is illegal. Last January the sate banned cloning, saying it raised such profound medical, ethical, and social questions, and more evaluation would be needed before a policy could be developed. "Cloning is a question ethicists and scientists are debating." Some say a clone would suffer psychologically because it would know in great detail many things about its life: what it would look like, what kind of genetic diseases it would suffer, and maybe its intellectual capabilities. "Some feel that knowledge would be difficult for an individual to handle." This topic can pertain to Biology, as it deals with human life and AP Human Geography, due to states all over the country making cloning illegal after the topic has diffused around the world.
I understand couples' desires to want to raise and start a family; however, human cloning seems questionable to me. Let's think about it. We all have heard the saying, "There is no one like you, which makes you special." In contrast, cloning would make you the same exact person as your carrier. Cloning, to me, goes against the natural ways, where humans enjoy producing a new child, that is alike, but in so many ways different from themselves. Adoption seems more suitable because you're raising a child, where you don't know its desires and capabilities. The most joyous part of having a child is learning about him or her as they grow and mature into adults. Adoption seems like a win-win. The child now has parents that love and takes care of them, and the parents can now start and raise a family. My mom works at the DFCS office, and there are days when she is overwhelmed and distraught about why and how certain, innocent children were taken up for adoption. I comprehend the perception of wanting to have a biological child because they feel that they can truly call the child as their own. Also, doctors are not always right. My aunt was told that she would never be able to have a baby, but she is pregnant at this very minute. Cloning can cause defects as well. Certain organs won't construct in their whole form, or they will not function properly. In my opinion, I feel that cloning is not the way to go. It will help couples and their desire to produce their own child, but in the end, it is not the most suitable option. How do you feel about cloning? Take the poll to your left.
CBSNews.com Staff. "Cloning for Infertile Couples?" CBS News. 22 July 1998. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cloning-for-infertile-couples/
This video intrigued me and gave a whole, different understanding of human cloning. I hope it baffles and entertains you as well.
