Why clone living things?

1. 65

   Anjiliposted 13 years ago

   Why clone living things?

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2. 0

   msorenssonposted 13 years ago

   To preserve the genetic identity of that organism.
   
   When a scientist performs experiments, it is purely for the pleasure of finding things out for themselves, whether it can be done or not. It is really a very selfish quest. On the other hand, it is also pure, for the sake of knowledge.
   
   The scientist looks at his experiments without reference to good or evil.

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3. 0

   Butch Newsposted 13 years ago

   We may find answers that will solve health and longevity issues.  There is also a desire to reproduce a genetic copy of a good specimen of an animal... a genetic twin.
   
   Kind of like reproducing an exact copy of a star athlete.

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4. 61

   Jaymeyarochposted 13 years ago

   To be the Devil's Advocate:
   
   Why not?  We CAN do it, can't we?
   
   So what if cloning things doesn't advance science or solve any world problems like AIDS or hunger?  Since when has that stopped science from being science?
   
   Of course, if you have moral or religious (or moraligious, to combine them) issues with the idea of "playing God" then I can see why this question would have a context.
   
   Because out of context it's like asking why the sky is blue.  It's just a question that gets just an answer.  No one will want to tackle it because there's no guild lines to framing an answer.  I think these are the best kinds of questions.
   
   I mean, what if playing around with cloning and replicating of DNA from one creature to its exact copy does indeed lead to inadvertent advances in medicine or technology?  Who are we to stand in the way of discovery?
   
   I mean, if it wasn't for the space program doing strange and dangerous things with science we would never have the awesome blenders that allow us to have our margaritas blended instead of on the rocks.
   
   So you really do have to give props for science for coming up with unexpected and non-essential things just by being science.

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5. 57

   Multifunc Writerposted 13 years ago

   Maybe the question is not "Why" but "Should we"? I believe that it is unethical to clone living things. I do believe in science but still there must be some boundaries we shouldn't cross. We have already destroyed nature and cloning living things will cause so many problems - legal, ethical, whatever. And I am not conservative  - I am just a realist.

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