Simply mentioning the word cloning is likely to generate a debate. The cost of cloning on society cannot be overlooked. It is an extremely inefficient procedure and most clones do not survive. The clones that survive birth often have mental and/or physical problems. Although cloning animals and humans can have many advantages, the risks and ethical dilemmas are greater than the benefits. In order to allow cloning research to be conducted safely and prudently, more mandatory regulations must be put in place.
There are two main types of artificial cloning which could be useful if they were regulated. Artificial cloning includes therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning. Therapeutic cloning uses a person’s own cells to make new bodily systems or organs.“Embryos are often used for therapeutic cloning, because they have the ability to transform and grow into any type of organ and cell,” (“Pros and cons,” 2013, para. 2). This type of cloning is potentially useful, but it has not been perfected despite years of research. It also comes with many risks, such as the possible production of tumors. Reproductive cloning is used to create an animal or human with identical genetic features as that of another animal or human.“The most common technique is somatic cell nuclear transfer” (“Reproductive Cloning,” n.d., para. 4). This is also known as asexual reproduction. In this process, a nucleus is removed from an egg. Next, a cell from the individual who is being cloned is placed into