Related Information to Human Cloning?

Human Cloning? - Page 4

I understand what you mean now. But there is a HUGE difference between commiting mistakes on a space shuttle than in cloning a human being. Look at the example of the sheep Dolly for instance
To be honest, I don't feel good about this at all!. I don't see the need for it, no matter how tempting it looks, I think it will have terrible consequences in the future. I cannot feel excited about this, I just don't...

Cloning Human

 They certainly have a long way to go.  Poor Sheep!

I could imagine people being kidnapped just to get some of theie genetic code for identity. Maybe everyone will want their own Madonna, Elvis, and Michael Jordan reproductions?

Used by Permission:

From:  The Pro-Life Infonet
Reply-To:  Steven Ertelt
Subject:   Dolly the Sheep Dies Prematurly, Scientists Warn of Cloning
Dangers
Source:   CNN; February 14, 2003

Dolly the Sheep Dies Prematurly, Scientists Warn of Cloning Dangers

London England -- Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, has been
euthanized after being diagnosed with progressive lung disease, the Roslin
Institute has said.

The decision was taken to end her life at the age of 6 after a veterinary
examination confirmed the lung disease, a statement from the institute
said.

"Sheep can live to 11 or 12 years of age and lung infections are common in
older sheep, particularly those housed inside," said Dr. Harry Griffin,
head of the institute.

"A full post-mortem is being conducted and we will report any significant
findings."

Dolly, a Finn Dorset named after the country-western singer Dolly Parton,
made headlines worldwide in 1996 when she became the first mammal to be
cloned with DNA taken from an adult cell.

A team led by professor Ian Wilmut of the Edinburgh-based Roslin Institute
took Dolly's DNA from a ewe's udder.

Her birth was heralded as one of the most significant scientific
breakthroughs of the 1990s, but it also triggered furious debate about the
ethics of cloning -- a debate which has deepened with claims of human
cloning.

In January 2002, Dolly was diagnosed as having arthritis, a condition
usually expected in older animals.

It was not clear whether the cloning process led to the arthritis, but
research in 1999 suggested that Dolly might be susceptible to premature
aging -- a possibility raised after a study of her genetics.

A team from the Edinburgh-based biotech company PPL Therapeutics examined
structures in Dolly's cells called telomeres. The team found that the
structures were slightly shorter than would be expected in a sheep of her
age which was born normally.

"The real issue is what Dolly died from, and whether it was linked to
premature ageing. She was not old by sheep standards to have been put
down," human cloning expert Dr. Patrick Dixon said.

"The greatest worry many scientists have is that human clones -- even if
they don't have monstrous abnormalities in the womb -- will need hip
replacements in their teenage years and perhaps develop senile dementia by
their 20th birthday. This is why Dolly's health is so crucial and why
scientists around the world will be waiting for the results of a
post-mortem examination on her."

A Singapore-based scientist who was part of the team that created Dolly
said her premature death was proof of the many dangers of cloning.

``I think it highlights more than ever the foolishness of those who want
to legalize (human) reproductive cloning,'' said Alan Colman.

Human Cloning? History & Civil Business Politics

So one problem that has been identified is the 'degraded copy syndrome'. Just like a copy is never quite as good or valuable as the original.  Can this be fixed? Thank you Dolly for helping us learn about the problems that will confront cloners.  Hope for the future lies buried in the study of history.  Dolly the sheep is history.  

Page 4 Cloning Human

It's interesting to see that the US House of Representatives  has passed a Bill to Ban all forms of cloning. No one for sure can tell if the Bill will make it through the Senate without changes to its essence, however, President Bush(man) has vowed to veto anything less than a total ban on all forms of cloning so it looks unlikely that a final version of the Bill will get out of the Senate - Biotechnology industry will be hurt badly by a total ban on all forms of cloning and some people will be made into criminals. I expect the Biotech industries are hurrying their lobbyists to the Senate to try to sway votes in their favor.  

Cloning Human

Used by Permission:

From:  The Pro-Life Infonet
Reply-To:  Steven Ertelt
Subject:   Bills To Ban Human Cloning Multiply In States
Source:   Stateline; March 14, 2003

Bills To Ban Human Cloning Multiply In States

Washington, DC -- Clonaid claimed in December 2002 to have created the
first human clone. The self-described human cloning company and religious
sect hasn't proven their feat, but they succeeded in breeding new state
legislation to ban the practice. Legislators in 21 states have introduced
47 bills since the start of 2003 that would outlaw human cloning for
reproductive or research purposes.

"In the absence of a ban by the federal government states are acting on
the issue," said pro-life Indiana state Sen. Patricia Miller
(R-Indianapolis). Miller, whose cloning bill recently won state Senate
approval, would make cloning a felony, punishable by up to four years in
prison or a $10,000 fine.

Since 2001, the number of state bills introduced to prohibit cloning has
more than quadrupled, said Alissa Johnson, a policy specialist at the
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

"The issue is back on the radar screen because of an extraterrestrial,
rather outlandish claim," said Patrick Kelly, vice president for state
government relations at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), a
trade association in Washington, D.C.

Oklahoma state Rep. Bill Graves (R-Oklahoma City) said the bill he's
sponsoring to ban all cloning won't make it out of committee this session
due to time constraints, but he hopes to attach it to a vehicle bill in
the Senate.

"I think that cloning is playing God. If we need more people we can stop
aborting people. It's bizarre and not something we should be doing, it's a
Frankenstein type of thing," Graves said.

Many of the ethical and scientific concerns surrounding cloning surfaced
in 1997 when Scottish scientists unveiled the world's first cloned animal;
Dolly, a sheep. At Dolly's arrival many state lawmakers scurried to
introduce bills to ban the procedure, but only California passed a ban on
reproductive cloning that year.

Since then other animals have been cloned, but no humans. Dolly was
euthanized last month because of premature ageing, which opponents say
illustrates the potential dangers of cloning.

The cloning issue waned at the state level after initial bills fueled by
Dolly were introduced, BIO's Kelly said, although lawmakers in five states
have since passed restrictions on human cloning.

Iowa and Michigan prohibit all cloning and Louisiana, Rhode Island and
Virginia ban reproductive cloning. Missouri prohibits the use of state
funds for cloning research.

So far this year, bills to ban cloning have passed one legislative body in
four states Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey and North Dakota.

In contrast, lawmakers in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island,
Tennessee and Washington have introduced measures to specifically permit
destructive embryonic stem cell research opposed by the pro-life
community.

Human Cloning?

Cloning is such a powerful tool and I'm afraid of the consequences if cloning technology gets into the wrong hands. Instead of one George W. Bush, we could have an army... SHUDDERS

Human Cloning - Page 4

I agree. It's terrifying to think of the evil that could be done with irresponsible use of this technology.  But then again, I think also of the good it can bring too.  Alot like any new invention i.e fire control, the gun, the club,  the car, electricity control, nuclear power, rocket propellant, the space shuttle, TV,  Radio, etc etc.

Human Cloning Politics Business Civil & History - Page 4

Hey, let's clone JB!!

Most of the objections I've heard seem to stem from a religious perspective, including Bush. I'm not sure what the logic is there, and fail to see the point.

As for Bush and his objections, he is violating the fundamental premise of the separation of church and state on that one.

Although I am generally a supporter of his, if he can't keep his religion out of his politics, then he needs to resign.

I personally have no position on cloning one way or the other.