This blog post takes a deep look at whether human cloning can be an innovation that brightens the future of humanity or a dangerous experiment that threatens human dignity.
Cloning is a word that refers to the production of an identical individual to an individual in its natural state. This word is receiving more and more attention along with the development of science and technology. In particular, cloning of animals has already become a reality, and a representative example is Dolly the cloned sheep. Dolly was a cloned sheep that was born with a survival rate of about 1/270, which shocked not only the scientific community but also the general public. The birth of Dolly caused surprise and ethical and social controversy. The possibility of cloning animals means that the possibility of cloning humans may soon become a reality.
In this context, the potential of cloning technology and the ethical issues that arise from it are emerging as important issues in modern society. Human cloning is not just a scientific challenge, but a problem that is directly linked to the future of humanity, requiring deep thought and reflection. One might ask what is the difference between animal cloning and human cloning, both of which are the cloning of living things. However, we are human, and since we think in a human-centric way, there is a fundamental difference between the two, and they should be dealt with from different perspectives.
The concept of human rights was established through the civil revolution, and human dignity has become one of the most important ideals of modern society. Human cloning is a very serious issue that can infringe on human dignity. Human dignity is not limited to individual rights, but encompasses the value and meaning of the human race as a whole. So, should human cloning be considered an act that infringes on this dignity and be completely banned? Or, could the proper use of human cloning be beneficial to humanity? To find the answer to this question, we would like to discuss the desirable direction of human cloning.
First of all, how should we define human cloning? Should we think of it as simply creating identical human beings? There would be no disagreement that the creation of another individual genetically identical to an existing individual is generally referred to as human cloning. However, the concept of cloning is not limited to the cloning of simple living organisms. I think that the cloning of a part of the human body, such as an organ, and the manipulation of the genes of a child to be born to realize the ideal human being can be seen as an area of human cloning. The scope of such cloning may differ from person to person, but I will start the discussion based on this broad definition.
I think human cloning could benefit humans if it is used properly. Therefore, I think human cloning should be allowed. Of course, social conventions and regulations are essential. In particular, the cloning of human individuals is a topic that can cause a lot of controversy. People are likely to oppose the birth of genetically selected children or the cloning of complete individuals. On the other hand, the partial cloning of an individual, such as an organ, will be positively received by many people. This is my personal opinion, but the view on the possibility of human cloning is complex like this.
The cloning of an individual is not much different from the birth of identical twins. Identical twins are genetically identical individuals born through cell division, while cloning is the creation of genetically identical individuals using the genes of somatic cells. Both situations result in the existence of multiple genetically identical individuals. We do not reject identical twins on the grounds that they are genetically identical. Rather, they have different personalities and lead different lives. The same will be true of individuals created through cloning. They will have similarities to existing individuals, but they will also have their own unique personalities. Of course, the cloning of complete individuals can cause serious problems. Human cloning has the potential to be misused, and historically, such potential has often become a reality. However, I believe that these issues can be sufficiently addressed through social consensus, regulation, and ethical guidelines.
Cloning parts of an individual, such as organs, will bring enormous benefits to humanity. For example, it can provide new life to people suffering from diseases and give them the opportunity to extend their human life. Even if it is impossible to live a completely immortal life, it is possible to enjoy a virtually immortal life by replacing the problematic body parts. However, the process of obtaining such body parts is important. After replicating a complete individual, it is never acceptable to sacrifice that life for the sake of just one organ. This is an act of treating humans as mere means, and it is never acceptable. Therefore, in this case, cloning should be limited to cloning only a part of the object.
In addition, the birth of genetically selected children, if well-regulated, can create a society where everyone is happy. The key point here is the scope of regulation. If all genes can be regulated, people will only choose the ideal genes, which can lead to a uniform society that has lost its genetic diversity. Such a society is genetically vulnerable, and as a result, human society may be at risk of extinction. Therefore, genetic selection should be limited to the removal of specific disease genes. For example, hemophilia, malaria, and some cancers are representative diseases caused by disease genes. If these diseases can be prevented, human cloning will surely play a positive role.
Social perceptions of human cloning are often negative. Many people are swayed by the negative images created by movies and television without giving sufficient consideration to the benefits that could be gained through cloning. Of course, I am not advocating unconditional cloning. Conditional and partial human cloning will make for a better society and contribute to the development of humanity.
