Human Embryo pytania

Why was this text written?

It was written because the BIOTECH FIRM announced that they had cloned the first human embryo.

What was the world reaction to the news?

It was greeted with a mixture of interest, suspicion and revulsion

What do you mean?

I mean…Some scientists are keen to explore cloning as a potential source of embryonic stem cells which could be used to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, while there are people who call it a nightmare come true.

What is the difference between therapeutic and reproductive cloning?

The distinction is that therapeutic cloning would be performed to harvest embryonic stem cells which have the ability to grow into a variety of other cell types. These cells could then be implanted into patients to replace defective ones. Reproductive cloning which involves inserting a person’s genetic material into an egg and allowing the egg to develop into a fetus would be performed with the goal of bringing the cloned baby to term.

Who is Severino Antinori?

Severino Antinori is probably the best-known researcher attempting to defy the taboo on reproductive cloning. He is the maverick Italian gynecologist best known for helping the 62- years old woman bear a child in 1994. Antinori who dismisses his critics as Taliban says that reproductive cloning could help infertile couples and that he was very very close to cloning a human baby.

What’s the market potential for therapeutic cloning?

If you find a way of producting cells that would help maintain quality of life the market potential would be tremendous. Anyway that potential would remain untapped if therapeutic cloning were banned.

What about legislation in EU?

The vast majority of the European countries have laws restricting cloning for research. Many countries are now contemplating relaxing such rules as the scientific possibilities and market potential become clearer.

Do you think that consensus is likely?

Well, whereas there are people who see a market potential and a way to improve our lives in cloning some consider the former them to be playing god I don’t really think that in this case consensus is possible. Both therapeutic and reproductive cloning for sure should be contemplated. Another thing is that there is a distinction between reproductive and therapeutic cloning. In my opining the former should be banned while the letter should be permitted. I think that there are many homeless children who are waiting to be adopted and when you are infertile you could become a parent to one of them instead of trying to make your own or someone else’s clon which seems to be dangerous and immoral thing to do.. But think of you or your family member getting sick and the only way to get cured is to have a new heart implanted into your body. The therapeutic cloning would probably be the only way to save your life.