Preventing a brave New World WK5 assignment - Essay Example

He argues that whatever scientists call ‘therapeutic cloning’, is the use of embryos as a font of tissues (Kass, 2001, p. 327). He also offers some reasons against cloning which covers both reproductive and therapeutic cloning. In his arguments against cloning, Kass advocates for ethical practice in biomedical projects. His views however, may face some challenges. In this essay, the discussion will cover Kass’ reasons for advocating for a ban on human cloning, and the strengths and weaknesses of his argument.

Kass’ Reasons against Human Cloning Kass has four reasons against human cloning. That the process of cloning humans is unethical, because the child to-be is used in an experiment that subjects him or her to risks of developmental and bodily abnormalities. That cloning threatens individuality and confuses identity. The clone is made from a genotype that has already lived. This denies the cloned individual his or her individuality. The process of cloning results in an individual that could be a twin to the person he/she should refer to as a mother or a father.

It means the clone’s relation to the parent is confused. That cloning is a way of turning procreation into manufacture, and that it is a major form of child abuse and parental tyranny (Kass, 2001, p. 324-328). Strengths of the Argument Evidence shows that cloning is very risky and expensive. According to Sharma (2007), cloning is inefficient and 90% of attempts fail. Cloned animals have been found to have high rate infection, carcinoma, low immunity levels and some disorders. Even Dolly sheep suffered some abnormalities when it was five years old (Gupta, 2004, p. 256). Evidence also shows that cloned animals’ genomes are compromised and some of them behave abnormally.

They also suffer from congenital abnormalities due to programming errors. Some cloned animals die young (Sharma, 2007, p. 167). The concept of cloning supports the argument on identity and individuality. The process involves removal or deactivation of a nucleus from an unfertilized egg and introduction of a somatic cell nucleus from a selected adult (Levine, 2009, p. 9). This means that the cloned individual will not have the natural genetic distinctiveness and independence. Procreation has indeed been turned into a manufacturing process.

Levine indicates that cloning technology already has commercial uses with many private companies and academic scientists owning various patents. These patents cover various elements of derivation of human embryonic stem cells, and nuclear transfer technique (Levine, 2009, p. 144). Weaknesses of the Argument Different people have different views on what is wrong or right. Arguments against cloning, therefore, that procreation has been turned into a manufacturing process, that cloning leads to the production of abnormal babies, and that the cloned individual may lack identity and individuality; may all not be considered unethical by some people.

Some may argue that malformed, unhealthy and abnormal children are born every year due to various factors. Some may argue that Kass’ arguments do not consider the goodness of well-being. Some may argue that considering the advantages of well-being over disadvantages could be more appropriate (The President's Council on Bioethics, 2002). Conclusion Cloning should be banned based on the reasons given by Kass. Apart from