Reproductive

cloning
By Imran Ahmed and Burhan Malik

What is Reproductive Cloning?

Reproductive cloning is essentially the

reproduction of a genetic duplicate of an

existing organism

The entire genetic code is reproduced from a

somatic body cell based off the organism that

will be cloned [1]

The first successful cloning of a mammal was

a sheep known as Dolly

[1] (Center for Genetics and Society, 2009)

Dolly the Sheep

**Figure-1

Figure-1 displays
Dolly which was
the first cloned
mammal, scientists
at the University of
Edinburgh utilised a
reproductive method
known as Somatic
Cell Nuclear
Transfer to create a
replica of the
original sheep.

 The most common method of reproductive

cloning is through a method known as Somatic
Cell Nuclear Transfer [1]
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer involves
extracting the nucleus of an egg cell and then
subsequently replacing it with the nucleus of a
somatic body cell. [2]
The egg, containing the foreign nucleus is
stimulated with a shock and will begin to divide.
[2]

The formed blastocyst (a small clump of cells

that forms after an egg is fertilized) is then
transferred to a surrogate
to develop
Configuration
at mother
the cellular
into a new animal.
[1] (Gurdon and Uehlinger 1966; Byrne et al. 2002)

[2] (Kate Yandell, 2014)

level

**Figure -2

o Figure-2 illustrates the process of Somatic Cell

Nuclear Transfer , the egg cells nucleus is
ejected and replaced with the nucleus from a
somatic body cell from an organism, a shock is
induced and the egg will start to divide.

Benefits of Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive cloning can be used as a medium for
emotional support [2]
People who have lost their pets and are in agony have the
ability to have their pets cloned so that they are genetically
identical
There is one lab in South Korea that clones the desired
animal using SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer) and have
cloned approximately 400 dogs since the organization had
begun. [1]
[1] (Erin Brodwin, 2014), [2] (LiveScience, 2014)

More benefits
Same sex couples can have children without the use of
donor sperm or donor eggs [1]
People eager to have children but are unable to can utilize
reproductive cloning to have their own [1]
Endangered animals can be cloned to save their species

[2]

It would allow for families to have another child if the first

one had died, they would be able create another child
from the same genetic materials of the first one which
would alleviate pain from the tragedy and provide relief
for parents suffering the loss. [3]
[1] (J R Soc Med. 1999), [2] (Gac Med Mex. 2002), [3] [Med J Aust. 1997]

**Figure-3

Figure-3 illustrates James Symington with his five

dogs, all of which are cloned as he won a lottery to
have his rescue dogs replicated.

Is human DNA cloning moral?

Some say yes:

Some talents seem to be genetically influenced.
Musical ability seems to run in families.
Cloning using the DNA from the cell of an adult
with the desired traits or talents might produce
an infant with similar potential. [6]
[6] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1382860/somatic-cell-nucleartransfer-SCNT

Is human DNA cloning

moral?
A heterosexual couple in which the husband was

completely sterile could use adult DNA cloning to

produce a child. An ovum from the woman would be
coupled with a cell from the man's body.

Both would contribute to the child: the woman would

provide the "factory" for creating cells; the man would

provide the "genetic information." [4]

They might find this more satisfactory than using the

sperm of another man. [3]

[3] http://www.rhtp.org/fertility/cloning/

Is human DNA cloning

moral?

Some say no:

Cells seem to have a defined life span built into them.

"Dolly" was created from a cell that was about six
years old; this is middle age for a ewe. [7]

She was believed to be, in essence, about six years

old when she was born and was expected to live only
for five years, which is shorter than the normal life
span of 11 years.

If this is also true of humans, then cloned people

would have a reduced life expectancy.

[12]

[7]
http://www.animalresearch.info/en/medical-advances/timeline/cloning-dolly-thesheep
/

Is human DNA cloning

moral?

Reproductive cloning is essentially unsafe.

At least 95% of mammalian cloning experiments have

resulted in failures in the form of miscarriages, stillbirths,

and life-threatening anomalies; some experts believe no
clones are fully healthy. [8]

In the experiment that led to Dolly, it took 277 attempts to

come up with one successfully cloned sheep. [8]

The technique could not be developed in humans without

putting the physical safety of the clones and the women
who bear them at grave risk.
[8] http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/public-interest/dolly-the-sheep/

Figure 4.
This graph
shows the
frequency of
health
problems in
clones vs
conventional
animals

Reproductive Cloning in Canada

Canadian law prohibits the following:

cloning humans, cloning stem cells, growing human

embryos for research purposes, and buying or selling of

embryos, sperm, eggs or other human reproductive
material. [9]

It also bans making changes to human DNA that would

pass from one generation to the next, including use of
animal DNA in humans.
[9] http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?id=7694

International Viewpoint
The possibility of human cloning has been the source of
debates by the governments of many countries and
international organizations.

Policies and laws are currently being formulated in different

countries and even in different states of the United States.

[11

Statements of the U.S., U.K. and Canadian governments and

many other publications explain the moral, ethical and legal
issues of human cloning that are appropriate. [11]

[11] http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113235569.html?

International Viewpoint
World policies on human or reproductive cloning range
from complete prohibition to no policies on record.

Thirty-one countries, including France, Germany, and

Russia, have banned human cloning altogether. [12]

Fifteen countries, such as Japan, the UK, and Israel,

have banned human reproductive cloning, but permit

therapeutic cloning. [12]

[12] http://www.rhtp.org/fertility/cloning/

Figure 5- Shows cloning laws of certain States

http://www.rhtp.org/fertility/cloning/

Catholic Viewpoint
Through the act of creating another human being, Theologists
have also posed the question as to whether this would be too
much like playing God.[13]

Cloning is not "natural": People have very different views of

what is "natural".

One can argue that God did not intend cloning to be done. But
the same argument was used, largely in the past, to oppose
such techniques as in vitro fertilization. It all depends upon
what one is used to, and what one considers to be "natural."

[13] http://www.religioustolerance.org/clo_intra.htm

Catholic Viewpoint
Much of the debate has to do with the question of

at what point thesoulenters the body. Catholics

believe that the soul enters the body at the moment
of conception when thespermand eggunite. [14]

Thus, Catholics and other Christian denominations

that share this belief may see embryonic cloning as

equivalent to live human experimentation and
therefore contrary to God's will.

[14]
http://www.rsrevision.com/GCSE/christian_perspectives/genetics/reproductive_cl
oning/introduction.htm

Should scientists
heighten the research?
At the current rate, reproductive cloning is not efficient as it has a 5%
success rate. By the continuation of research the efficiency could be
improved and the viability of cloning would be taken into
consideration therefore research should be extended

Furthermore, by expanding our understanding of reproductive cloning

we could eliminate the margin for error as the tissues age
prematurely which is why most of the replicated animals die early. If
the imprint is minimized on the growing embryo the resultant clones
longevity will be improved
Moreover, reproductive cloning initiates equality, both men and
women in same-sex relationships require donor genetic material in
order to have biological children. Through the reproductive cloning
process, these couples could have children that are uniquely their
own without the use of donated material.
In essence, the pros outweigh the cons as the ethical concerns are not
directed towards this subject in particular, but with many other