If this technique was perfected, we would have to ask ourselves what would be the difference between a cloned baby and a child born naturally and why would we want one. In some cases, the man may be infertile or the woman may not be able to reproduce or partners in a homosexual relationship or a single person are not able to conceive children. Perhaps cloning themselves or their partner could be of interest. Although this could sound like a good idea, the children growing up would have to live a life knowing that they aren’t their own person and are just a copy of someone else. If you were a clone of your father for instance, what is in store for you in the future may not be at all a surprise. How would a child cope with looking exactly like his father and seeing the physical future ahead of him?
Another example, bringing back a relative or a child that was tragically killed. The parents of the child would not be seeking for a new baby but just the return of their past child. Also, since the last child was fondly remembered for having certain talents and interests, the new child may develop differently. Is it fair for the new child to be placed in a family with such unnatural expectations?
Cloning is also suggested as a means by which parents can have the child of their dreams. Some couples may choose to have a copy of a celebrity, athlete, or their idol. With this in mind they will expect the child of their dreams but what if the child doesn’t exceed their expectations? Every child should be wanted for itself, as an individual. Making a copy of oneself or a famous person proves that the parent is specifying the way he or she wishes that child to develop instead of developing on it’s own.
Where in the Bible does it say that?
ReplyDeleteI think that if people begin to clone other humans, those children may have mental and emotional issues. I would hate to find out that I was a physical copy of someone else. I agree with what you say about the children meeting (or not meeting) the parents expectations. I do not agree with cloning for this reason. While I understand that some people are not able to conceive children of their own, I do not think it would be fair to the child at all.
I believe that if cloning does become legal, that there should be rules around it. I do not agree with cloning a celebrity or athlete. Who has the rights to that body? That celebrity. Besides, who wants a million little 1st grade John Lennon copies running around in 2011? Thats just odd and cruel. If people are to be cloned, it should be a copy of the parent or relative.
"If you were a clone of your father for instance, what is in store for you in the future may not be at all a surprise" That is only true if we are only our DNA. In actuality, we are the sum of our experiences. Taking from your example, a son's life experiences would definitely be different from the father just because society itself is different.
ReplyDelete