Cloning is a term used to describe different processes, which can be used to create identical copies, which are genetically and biologically produced. In other terms, it can be described as where an organism is created to form a similar copy of another. With this, the entire DNA is similar with one another. The result of the entire process is known as a clone. Recently, researchers have managed clone a variety of biological materials such as cells, genes, organisms and different tissues. Naturally, single-celled organisms and various plants produce off springs, which are genetically identical via a process referred to as sexual reproduction (Pence, 2008). During asexual reproduction, individuals are produced from copies of single cell thus produced from parent organism. When natural clones occur, it is referred to as the identical twins and it mainly occur in mammals and human being. Natural clone occurs when an egg, which is fertilized splits, then creates more than one embryo, which carries a similar DNA. In most cases, the identical twins have almost similar genetic makeup; however, they are not genetically similar to their parents (Pence, 2008).
In the United States of America, the Stem Cell Foundation Laboratory in New York City have reprogrammed the human egg cell of an adult to become an embryonic state. This is done by the use of cloning technology and by this; it will create a self-reproducing line, which contains embryonic stem cells (Pence, 2008). The embryonic stem cells are developed from the embryo. By so doing, the scientists have managed to achieve what has been viewed as impossible in many quarters. The Stem Cell Foundation scientists do not consider cloning of the human embryos as an end-all experiment hence, they aim to generate embryonic stem cells. It can be noted that the embryos are not originally clones because the stem- cell line DNA is not equivalent to that of their donors. The whole process of cloning has its disadvantages in that every topical stem-cell advance far, hence the principle and cloning are extremely far apart.
Cloning of the human embryos in the United States will face a number of challenges before it is fully permitted this is because the scientists will have to know and learn how to entice them into the production of helpful tissues. The scientists will also be tasked with ensuring that both the coaxing and the cloning will not interfere with the cells whereby, the coaxing and the cloning will not only make the cells ineffective but also lethal. This is seen as a dangerous thing considering the diverse forms of stem-cell production like in one situation where the skin cells are genetically reprogrammed to relapse to stem cells (Pence, 2008). This reprogramming is not advisable because it can easily trigger cancerous growth. By this, the technique is seen as a way too far from being ready in that it is not ready for clinical use. However, the reprogramming technique has its advantages in that it does not require the creation and embryos destruction, which might have negative effects on some people.
As for now, the scientists are still miles behind from achieving their first major achievement although it is said to be still visible in hindsight (Pence, 2008). All points considered, permitting cloning of the human embryos in the United States should not be a problem by the government or the institutions involved. As stated, cloning of the human embryos has lesser disadvantages compared to the advantages hence it ought to be permitted. The government will be tasked with the responsibility of regulating the whole process. In the federal level, the food and drug administration regulates the jurisdiction governing clinical research thus the use of cloning technology in human beings. In the meantime, the National Institutes of Health Human Embryo Research panel extended a science policy institution. In this case, the National Institutes of Health Human Embryo Research panel is responsible in regulating and overseeing cloning of human embryos. The federal policies on cloning have been enacted by the United States Congress and it is provided by the Genetics Center and Society. The federal laws governing human embryo cloning include, Human Cloning Prohibition which was enacted back in 2007, while the Human Cloning Prohibition which was enacted back in 2003 and was passed by House of Representatives.
References
Pence, G. E. (2008). Who’s afraid of human cloning?. Lanham [u.a.: Rowman & Littlefield.
