Greetings! A very good report on the general ethics of human genetic
cloning titled "Genetic Encores: The Ethics of Human Cloning" and
written by Robert Wachbroit may be found at
http://www.puaf.umd.edu/IPPP/Fall97Report/cloning.htm . In part, it
reads:
"It seems clear that some of these concerns, at least, are based on
false beliefs about genetic influence and the nature of the
individuals that would be produced through cloning. Consider, for
instance, the fear that a clone would not be an "individual" but
merely a "carbon copy" of someone else -- an automaton of the sort
familiar from science fiction. As many scientists have pointed out, a
clone would not in fact be an identical copy, but more like a delayed
identical twin. And just as identical twins are two separate people --
biologically, psychologically, morally and legally, though not
genetically -- so, too, a clone would be a separate person from her
non-contemporaneous twin. To think otherwise is to embrace a belief in
genetic determinism -- the view that genes determine everything about
us, and that environmental factors or the random events in human
development are insignificant."
The report is lengthy and comprehensive and explores various subjects
concerning human cloning.
Regarding law, the Center for Law and Genetics presents a plethora of
articles and links to cloning issues. Located at
http://lawgenecentre.org/, the site offers Codes of Practices and
Health Law among many other good informational links. Other sites
found in a search for "genetic cloning law" includes Britian, Canada
and Israel laws and proposed laws.
Concerning religion and genetic cloning, a site titled Dramatic
Science (http://www.open2.net/dramaticscience/cloning/religion.htm#held)
offers a dialogue with Rev. Canon Dr. Arthur Peacocke, MBE, a former
Director of the Ian Ramsay Centre in Oxford. Awarded the 2001
Templeton Prize for progress in religion, his response to "Do you
consider that scientists are playing God?" reads:
" Well I think scientists on the whole have been pretty careful about
not playing God. At least in this country when these issues have come
before the public, on the whole the scientists have been very careful
to let the public know what's going on. And in fact have been playing
their part in getting legislation to prevent rather rash things being
done with their technique. So I don't think scientists are playing
God. Some people may want to use scientific knowledge to play God, I
get that impression; people who want to have clones of themselves and
that kind of thing. I don't know about you but I find it enough living
with myself I don't want anybody else to have to live with myself as
it were."
When asked "Is scientific progress being held back due to the reaction
of the media and religious groups? " he responded:
"Well I haven't seen that at all. One circle I move in is that of
ordained priests and ministers who are themselves scientists and they
discuss these questions quite openly and many of them are
physiologists and biochemists and they understand the science and
they, rather like me, when it has a good outcome and a good intention
they often support the application. They always support the research
into finding out how things work and what's going on, but I suppose
many of them like me would be very hesitant about cloning. But then a
lot of scientists who have no religious perceptions are very hesitant
about cloning, for reasons about human dignity and personal integrity,
which I mentioned earlier."
Other sites that may be of interest concerning religion and cloning
are:
BBC Religion & Ethics - Genetic Engineering
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/cloning/clonessocial.shtml
Senate faces fiercest fight: cloning (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0430/p01s01-uspo.html
A Christian Response to Human Cloning Technology
http://www.fortifyingthefamily.com/Cloning.html
Should you need futher clarification before rating, please ask and I
will be happy to conduct further research on your question.
SEARCH TERMS:
genetic cloning ethics
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genetic cloning law
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christian right cloning
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genetic cloning religion
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