[teach (OP)]

Hello, this is Anna Wells, and Beth Wright.  We are doing an international research project on cloning.  We are interested in your thoughts on human cloning; do you think it is ethical, or do you think that there should be a law banning human cloning?

[Donnah]

It's a natural step forward for scientists.  We just need to have clear guidelines.

[Quantumcat]

As long as the laws are set down now to stop the bad side affects of cloning, and clear goals are established so scientists know exactly what their aiming for, then I say go for it.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

[MissMontana]

Playing devils advocate here but isn't there a danger that cloning will become just a nicer name for eugenics?

[Exodus]

quote:Originally posted by MissMontana

Playing devils advocate here but isn't there a danger that cloning will become just a nicer name for eugenics?

Miss Montana, are you some kind of beauty queen or something... was thinking along the lines of


Or are we looking at...



[][]LOL[]

Resident Tour Operator - The Naked Scientists

[MissMontana]

PMP

Because of the name or the comment?

[Ylide]

Exodus:  That's just wrong, man.  

As far as human cloning goes, I have mixed feelings.  Genetic diversity  and mutations are the cornerstone of evolution.  If you take away the randomness of gamete formation and eliminate mutations, you're essentially halting the progress of evolution.  To advance as a race (or into a new race) you're then going to need to take it upon yourself to decide which traits are advantageous and which are not.  You then find yourself in a dystopian scenario like in Brave New World or Gattaca.  

However, certain cloning-related technologies such as being able to replicate genetically identical organs for transplant has great potential for use in healthcare.  Cloning as a manner of reproduction opens a can of worms that I don't think we're socially mature enough as a race to handle.  



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[Exodus]

PMP- i dont understand what that means... Nah just the name... its like when you have Miss America competitions you have a Miss Florida or Miss Montana etc... was just playing around. []

Resident Tour Operator - The Naked Scientists

[Exodus]

quote:Originally posted by cannabinoid

Exodus:  That's just wrong, man.  

As far as human cloning goes, I have mixed feelings.  Genetic diversity  and mutations are the cornerstone of evolution.  If you take away the randomness of gamete formation and eliminate mutations, you're essentially halting the progress of evolution.  To advance as a race (or into a new race) you're then going to need to take it upon yourself to decide which traits are advantageous and which are not.  You then find yourself in a dystopian scenario like in Brave New World or Gattaca.  

However, certain cloning-related technologies such as being able to replicate genetically identical organs for transplant has great potential for use in healthcare.  Cloning as a manner of reproduction opens a can of worms that I don't think we're socially mature enough as a race to handle.  



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Wrong?

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[MissMontana]

Peeing my pants or laughing quite intensely

Montana because my name is Toni, Miss because I'm not a bloke

[Exodus]

quote:Originally posted by MissMontana

Peeing my pants or laughing quite intensely

Montana because my name is Toni, Miss because I'm not a bloke

phew!! thought i'd done some upsetting there! well its damn good to meet you toni. I have not been on here for a few months due to University work, but its nice to be back!

Resident Tour Operator - The Naked Scientists

[MissMontana]

Nah, no upsetting, they were tears of laughter honest

[roberth]

Anyway Richard, I thought I asked you to keep those pictures of my sisters private.

[genegenie]

I have mixed feelings teach. We are products of our genetic make-up BUT environmental influences also have such a huge impact. As a standard practice, I'm against it, for similar reasons as cannabinoid gave relating to genetic diversity and evolution. However, there may be certain situations....?

Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.

[bezoar]

But if we clone, and what with apoptosis, won't the clone die sooner?  And let me open up a real can of worms -- will it have a soul?

[genegenie]

I know that there have been problems with telomere shortening, triggering early apoptosis. I'm not sure if it's been overcome yet. Bezoar, I'm not totally convinced of the presence of a 'soul' (well certainly not in the Christian sense) but assuming we all have a soul, then I'm sure that identical twins (both having an identical genetic makeup) would each possess individual souls. A clone shouldn't be 'soul-less'.

Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.

[Acrinimiril]

quote:Originally posted by bezoar

But if we clone, and what with apoptosis, won't the clone die sooner?  And let me open up a real can of worms -- will it have a soul?

 
I love it when creationists say "Yep. God Created me in 6 days."
 
I love it because I get to quote the ever-quotable Bill Hicks who
was thought to have replied "Yeah, I'd say he rushed you."

Did you know that RNA is only passed along the female side since protozoa such as sperm carry only DNA?  The Egg is a complete, if sterile, cell.  But it carries memory that sperm cannot.

[Acrinimiril]

 
PS.  That was NOT troll bait or a flame.
It just p!$$e$ me off.

Tell me, young Einstein, exactly how many pieces do ten fingers blow into?

[bezoar]

I like the Bill Hicks line.  I can think of a few people I'll use it on soon.  Thanks.

And as far as eggs carrying memory, ya think that's why women have better memories than men?

[Ylide]

My favorite Bill Hicks quote about God:

And on the seventh day, god stepped back and said "There is my creation, perfect in every way... oh, dammit I left pot all over the place. Now they'll think I want them to smoke it... Now I have to create republicans."

I'll be all for cloning once they can replicated my body, keep it in cryostorage until I'm near death's door,then transfer my consciousness into my clone.  That would be freakin' sweet.



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