CLONING OF HUMANS.

 

As per definition cloning is “Generation of genetically identical copy of a cell or an Organism”. In genetic research the DNA of an organism is replicated to produce a clone.

In what way is a cloned organism is different from that which is born from a mother by natural birth?

In natural birth the embryo needs a a sperm cell from the male and an egg from the female. They fuse together in the embryo which therefore inherits genetic characteristics from both mother and father.

In cloning this is totally sidestepped. The DNA from the cell is obtained and replicated to form the embryo. Therefore that embryo does not need both father and a mother. The DNA cell can be taken either from a male or a female and that person from whom the cell has been taken becomes the biological parent of the embryo. Thus the embryo is an exact copy of the person from whom the cell is taken without absolutely any change of characteristics.

In 1996, a British Biologist Ian Wilmut generated the first cloned sheep known as “Dolly”. After that other animals like dogs, horses, mules, rats, mice, pigs and goats. However a Primate (the biological Order to which humans belong) could be cloned only in 2018.

Reproductive cloning involves the implantation of a cloned embryo into a real or an artificial uterus.

In 2008, the scientists from Stemagen a company from California announced that they have cloned 5 human embryos and they have matured to the stage where they could be implanted into a womb. However, they destroyed the embryos after 5 days to perform nuclear analysis on them.

Human reproductive cloning remains a huge ethical controversy and is universally condemned. Concerns about eugenics, the notion that the human species could be improved through the selection of individuals possessing desired traits, has surfaced, since cloning could be used to breed “better” humans, thus violating principles of human dignity, freedom, and equality.

Surprisingly effective cloning is around from 1996 when Dolly was created. Immediately after Dolly was cloned a number of people and groups have announced that  they were going to clone a human. But in actuality such a thing never happened at least with proof.

There was a fascinating cult called the “Raelians” who claimed that a religious command from aliens has urged them to go ahead on human cloning. In 1997 they formed an organization called the “Cloneaid” to realize that. They were led by Biochemist Brigitte Boisselier. They had a laboratory in West Virginia for that purpose until they were stopped by the FDA.

They then moved their operations to the Bahamas and in 2002 and announced that a cloned baby named Eve was born in Dec 2002. They claimed that they have brought to life 14 human clones by the year 2004. No one believed them as Cloneaid did not let anyone cross check stating ethical problems.

However, it was found that cloning a Primate is an extremely difficult process with a high failure rate. Even in the creation of Dolly only 1 attempt out of 250 succeeded so the claim of the Raelians is mere hogwash.

As far as we know, no one has created a human clone so far. This is not to say that it is impossible but very difficult. But new systems always come in with research, and this cannot be ruled out in the future. But such a process would have severe repercussion on our society. In a way perhaps it is safer not to experiment with such research.

But then, reproductive cloning may not be safe, but there are other areas of cloning that can be highly beneficial to us. For example by cloning the DNA of a person who requires an organ can be replaced can be used to make a perfect clone that would be perfectly acceptable to the body.