Who Will Clone?

Not all cloning would involve creating an entirely new human being. Cloning is seen as a possible way to aid some people who have severe medical problems. One potential use of cloning technology would involve creating a human repair kit. In other words, scientists could clone our cells and fix mutated genes that cause diseases. In January 2001, the British government passed rules to allow cloning of human embryos to combat diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

While it may take time for cloning to be fully accepted, therapeutic cloning will likely be the first step in that direction. Therapeutic cloning is the process by which a person's DNA is used to grow an embryonic clone. However, instead of inserting this embryo into a surrogate mother, its cells are used to grow stem cells. These stem cells can be used as a human repair kit. They can grow replacement organs, such as hearts, livers and skin. They can also be used to grow neurons to cure those who suffer from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Rett Syndrome.

Here's how therapeutic cloning works:

  • DNA is extracted from a sick person.
  • The DNA is then inserted into an enucleated donor egg.
  • The egg then divides like a typical fertilized egg and forms an embryo.
  • Stem cells are removed from the embryo.
  • Any kind of tissue or organ can be grown from these stem cells to treat the sick.

Others see cloning as a way to aid couples with infertility problems, but who want a child with at least one of the parent's biological attributes. Zavos and Antinori say that helping these couples is the goal of their research. Zavos said that there are hundreds of couples already lined to to pay approximately $50,000 for the service. The group said that the procedure would involve injecting cells from an infertile male into an egg, which would be inserted into the female's uterus. Their child would look the same as the father.

Another use for human cloning could be to bring deceased relatives back to life. Imagine using a piece of your great-grandmother's DNA to create a clone of her. In a sense, you could be the parent of your great-grandmother. This opens the door to many ethical problems, but it's a door that could soon be opened. One American couple is paying $500,000 to Clonaid to clone their deceased daughter using preserved skin cells.