An essay in which the task is to provide information on the costs and benefits of a specific technological advancement.
Cloning: A Regenerative Revelation or a Sci-Fi Curse?
Imagine you had an extra thumb, or another set of ears to rely on, just in case something happens. Having an extra body part would require an exact genetic copy of the cells of that specific body part, which would have to undergo rapid cell division. Fortunately, such a process is possible thanks to cloning–the exact genetic copy of an organism. While one may imagine cloning to be a snapshot of a sci-fi film centered around an exact replica of some protagonist, therapeutic cloning–also known as “somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)” –demonstrates a more realistic take. SCNT is accomplished by removing the nucleus of an egg cell and replacing it with a nucleus of a somatic cell, and then stimulating the egg cell to begin dividing without ever being fertilized by sperm (The Value of Therapeutic Cloning for Patients, n.d). SCNT is considered a revolutionary process, for it provides replacement of bodily materials such as skin and tissue and therefore contributes to breakthroughs in medicine and vaccines (The Value of Therapeutic Cloning for Patients, n.d). Yet, therapeutic cloning still possesses many caveats, from the high likelihood of mutations to the destruction of human embryos (Cloning fact sheet, 2020).
As aforementioned, therapeutic cloning, or SCNT, uses a donor cell to produce genetically-identical embryonic stem cells–eventually to be used to create a cloned embryo (Cloning fact sheet, 2020). Nuclei from adult cells are transplanted into cells of ovaries or egg cells to eventually grow into embryos that are genetically identical to the donated nucleus (Koslov, et al. 2019). Somatic cells Although human embryos have not been developed yet, there is still a plethora of applications of SCNT. Firstly, they can be used to aid vital organs, such as the heart: individuals who suffer from heart failure can use the genetic materials from their skin cells and inject them into egg cells to yield specialized cells that will mature in heart muscle tissue (The Value of Therapeutic Cloning for Patients, n.d). Normally, when cells grow and develop, eventually only some genes are expressed. Through a process called gene expression, cells perform specific functions and contribute to distinct parts of the body, such as the skin or the lungs. However, before cells have fully matured, they have not determined their specific function yet–providing the optimal time for SCNT to begin its process. The process–at its very essence–is regenerative, for it restores the function of major body parts and aids in their repair. Not only can it be used as treatment, but also as a preventative measure through the replacement of damaged cells with new and viable somatic cells (Gaille, 2018). Furthermore, the efficiency of the procedure is enhanced by the fact that the cells are fully compatible with the patient, since the cells have come from that individual, and no immunosuppressive treatments nor specific organ donors (Gaille, 2018) are needed (Bordignon, 2011).
Secondly, therapeutic cloning provides much information about diseases and disorders in humans (Cloning Fact Sheet, 2020). On a molecular scale, embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any type of cell in the body, allowing doctors and researchers to witness the events that bring upon diseases and deficiencies (The Value of Therapeutic Cloning for Patients, n.d). By supplying information on the complex mechanisms involved in cells and by understanding these processes, researchers can apply this information in the development of treatments and pharmaceuticals (Bordignon, 2011). Additionally, SCNT does not only provide information on biological systems, but also on the patients themselves through their genetic makeup. This is made possible by the fact that somatic cells contain the same DNA as the individual it is being used on. Through biotechnological processes and gene-altering on the embryonic cells, any genetic shortcomings are mitigated and a new range of medical treatments are available (Gaille, 2018).
No matter how revolutionary the technological breakthrough, no discovery comes without risks. Because cloning–still an outlandish topic–judges the morality of copying an entire being, the ethics of the practice leaves many questions unanswered–a major one being: “Who benefits from therapeutic cloning?” In other words, scientists are still unsure of who this treatment is intended for. Due to the fact that different diseases are more common in different groups of people, and the lack of representation in academia, researchers are still unsure whether everyone can benefit from SCNT. What more, white people are more likely to participate in research and possess a positive relationship with healthcare providers. From the case of Henrietta Lacks to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the inequality of different races in academia is further heightened by structural racism that continues to pose problems in the relationship between people of color–specifically Black individuals–and researchers. Although these issues are not specific to cloning, but rather a persistent concern general to the science community, cloning should still be handled with sensitivity and objectivity when interacting with society.
Beyond social implications, philosophical concerns are also brought to attention. Many critics of therapeutic cloning claim that cloning is an artificial manufacture of human life, and therefore diminishes its value, even if the process does not go further than the embryonic stage (Rugnetta, n.d). In other words, human life and body parts are easily expendable and are put on standby to be used for others at any moment. On the other hand, one counterargument is that we, as humans, have a moral obligation to heal others in any way possible–especially in the pursuit of knowledge (Rugnetta, n.d). Still, another criticism remains: the acquisition of the egg cells and embryos–especially at a large scale–requires much labor from females (Rugnetta, n.d). Therefore, standardized measures should be taken to ensure that such individuals are not taken advantage of nor exploited (Rugnetta, n.d). Finally, the process of cloning, overall, is very dangerous, and likely involves the loss of life, if not many failed attempts. In all, the overall consensus from critics claim that cloning is still a jarring procedure and replicating human life leaves much room for a dystopia to become reality.
Just as no fact can ever be completely objective, science cannot exist without its social implications. As the pursuit of knowledge grows more and more dire, more questions are raised pertaining to the ethics and philosophy of our position as researchers. While therapeutic cloning opens a plethora of advantages to medicine, it also raises concerns of the power we have over our life and value as humans. As the practice develops, it is up to both researchers and the general public to make a decision on how it will influence our society.
Works Cited:
Bordignon, V. (2011). Animal cloning. Comprehensive Biotechnology, 441–456. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-088504-9.00286-5
Cloning fact sheet. Genome.gov. (2020, August 15). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Cloning-Fact-Sheet#:~:text=What%20is%20therapeutic%20cloning%3F,developing%20new%20treatments%20for%20disease.
D.S. Koslov, A. Atala, Bioengineered Kidney and Bladder, Editor(s): Roger Narayan, Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering, Elsevier, 2019, Pages 432-443,ISBN 9780128051443, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.00199-9. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383001999)
Gaille, L. (2018, February 20). 13 therapeutic cloning pros and cons. Vittana.org. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://vittana.org/13-therapeutic-cloning-pros-and-cons
Rugnetta, M. (n.d.). Ethical controversy. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/cloning/Ethical-controversy
The value of therapeutic cloning for patients. BIO. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://archive.bio.org/articles/value-therapeutic-cloning-patients
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