Medical Human Cloning

It’s still on the cards and the research and science continues and of course ignores the opponents on human cloning.

The latest experiments have used a new method called “somatic cell nuclear transfer” which involves taking a sample of skin cells but converts them using proteins to "induced pluripotent" stem cells.

Opponents say this could lead to human cloning – the scientists say NO that cannot happen, it is not possible we only want to produce stem cells to help people with various ailments such as blindness, heart disease etc were the use of stem cells can create healing.

[Bit like putting a dressing on a wound to assist it to heal – my example]

My view is that human cloning will never happen – 1. we don’t understand the intricate mechanisms of embryonic development and 2. There are still major ethical issues for both atheists and religious minded people.

Remember Dolly the sheep died young.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22540374

Re: Medical Human Cloning

I would support cloning cells and even possibly organs as we need to stop waiting for babies and adults to die to save others. Cannot though help but worry they will try to do more and that cannot be allowed to happen.

Re: Medical Human Cloning

They will and already are: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9...ing-woman.html

Species die out for a reason and, in this case, Neanderthals, although they co-existed laterly with Cro-Magnons (our direct ancestors), they couldn't compete due to their limb size (this is the popular theory at the moment) so Neanderthals became extinct. What is the point of reinventing them? Just to prove they can? I'm not so sure it's a good idea but you can bet they will try.

Re: Medical Human Cloning

Not good ! And what rights would these cloned "people" have ? They are experiments at present would the scientists allow them to be free people or keep them captive like some lab rat ?

Re: Medical Human Cloning

They would have to let them live a 'freeish' life but most likely under constant surveillance. The problem comes with pathogens which will also be in the DNA recovered from fossils (although at that time, it is thought that Neanderthals were susceptible to our pathogens rather than the other way around but, who knows what would happen if recreated?) - could they represent a thread to the modern world?

Re: Medical Human Cloning

If we normal mortals can see the problems why can't these more clever people these men and women of science see them ?

Re: Medical Human Cloning

Because, I guess, they are driven by the need to cross the next 'frontier', overcome the next hurdle. If it's genuinely to improve life as we have it now and all risk is minimised as much as can be expected, I'd nervously go along with it but to recreate an extinct species?

Re: Medical Human Cloning

Neanderthal teenagers!

( reckon there's already a few around)

Re: Medical Human Cloning

I am smiling in agreement with you maggis

Re: Medical Human Cloning

"Remember Dolly the sheep died young."

I thought Uncle Joe ate Dolly the Sheep.