Cloning In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

As society advances, so does technology, which became instrumental to human kind as they attempt to discover why and how the universe works. Many technological advancements improve the quality of life, such as blood transfusions and facial recognition software, but mankind deemed some technology too dangerous to use, such as the nuclear bomb, though people (politician and scientists mainly) exist who argue the bomb’s necessity for the victory that took place after its use. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the titular character Victor Frankenstein discovers just how dangerous the pursuit of knowledge can be when he, in his endeavors to create and discover the secret of life, inadvertently creates a monster who torments him. “Learn from me, if

Even with the fictional premise, readers of this novel cannot help but relate the real world to the story. Take cloning for instance, the process of creating an organism genetically identical to another. Researchers often utilize cloning to create copies of genes so they are able to continue their research when the original sample begins to die. Scientist utilize three types of artificial cloning: gene, reproductive and therapeutic (“Cloning Fact Sheet”). Natural cloning takes place in the form of identical twins and from single cell organisms that undergo asexual reproduction. Animal cloning, a subsection of reproductive cloning, occurs by

Bananas for example. Cavendish bananas hold the position as the most popular and common banana in the world, how ever, these bananas contain identical genes, meaning that if a virus develops that infects the bananas, they attain a high risk level for extinction. This risk danger would be the same when applied to human cloning, one disease could easily turn into a widespread epidemic. Wild bananas on the other hand, contain a more diverse genetic code, and hold a lower level risk for extinction, similar to the diverse genetic coding that exists in the human race protecting against viruses that attack identical genes. The fears held by scientists can be prevented by careful use of cloning, only done in circumstances that demonstrate the need such as creating a perfect medical match or to creating copies of a genetic sample. The benefits of cloning in the world far outweigh any of the consequences. Opportunities for cloning to save lives exists everywhere, whether it be in saving an existing life and in the process creating a new life. Science should disregard Victor Frankenstein’s advice of “(seeking) happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries” (Shelley 162), and instead continue to further their research and continue publishing an advocating the use and benefits of