Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of something. In
Biology, it collectively refers to processes used to create copies of DNA
fragments (Molecular Cloning), Cells (Cell Cloning), or organisms. The term also
encompasses situations, whereby organisms reproduce asexually, but in common
parlance refers to intentionally created copies of organisms. Just for
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Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of an existing, or
previously existing human, by growing cloned tissue from that individual. The
term is generally used to refer to artificial human cloning; human clones in the
form of identical twins are commonplace, with their cloning occurring during the
natural process of reproduction.
Human cloning is amongst the most controversial forms of the practice. There
have been numerous demands for all progress in the human cloning field to be
halted. One of the most ethically questionable problems with human cloning is
farming of organs from clones. For example, many believe it is unethical to use
a human clone to save the life of another. In this scenario, the cloned human
would be euthanized so that the vital organs could be harvested. This process of
renewing the body's organs would potentially increase the life expectancy of a
human by 50 years. Some people have considered the idea of growing organs
separately from a human organism - in doing this, a new organ supply could be
established without the moral implications of harvesting them from human
organisms. Research is also being done on the idea of growing organs that are
biologically acceptable to the human body inside of other organisms, such as
pigs or cows, then transplanting them to humans. This practice is still morally
questionable, but arguably less so than the process of harvesting said organs
from a cloned human being.
