United States. Department of Energy Genome. Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). (2009, May 11). Cloning Fact Sheet. Retrieved 6 October 2010 from the Department of Energy Genome website: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/home.shtml
This extensive and well-researched guide is a must see for anyone interested in the cloning debate. It explains the process, the history, and the ethics (by unanimous vote, not personal opinion). The Human Genome Project was a project planned in 1990, driven by one simple goal, "were to determine the complete sequence of the 3 billion DNA subunits (bases), identify all human genes, and make them accessible for further biological study". Simple, right?
The project was planned to be finished in fifteen years, but was quickly finished by 2003. Nowadays, the website for the project is a myriad of information regarding the projects findings. It is, to say without a doubt the worlds main source for genetic engineering information.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Building brand new kidneys
Gottlieb, S. (2002, February 13). Building bran new kidneys News from The Scientist, p. 3(1). Retrieved from: http://www.the-scientist.com/news/20020213/04/
The Biotech company ACT (Advanced Cell Technology) did something no one considered possible back twenty years ago, they created an organ an from the cells of a cloned cow. More specifically, that organ is the Kidney, or at least Kidney-like organs, that are NOT rejected when implanted in cows. See, during an organ transplant, a patient's immune system must be suppressed, or else it'll attack the new organ and make the transplant a failure. During this time, patients are very exposed to bacteria and germs, and are at no position to defend their bodies. With cloned organs however, this process would be moot since the organs retain the same DNA as the patient, thus the immune system would not attack. This is what the article explains, and delves into. It raises the ethical question on whether growing clones just for harvesting body parts is right. While kidneys are simple to produce alone, other organs would be able to be made easier with the whole body intact. In fact, why not just grow a whole body and put it on storage until you need a part?
The Biotech company ACT (Advanced Cell Technology) did something no one considered possible back twenty years ago, they created an organ an from the cells of a cloned cow. More specifically, that organ is the Kidney, or at least Kidney-like organs, that are NOT rejected when implanted in cows. See, during an organ transplant, a patient's immune system must be suppressed, or else it'll attack the new organ and make the transplant a failure. During this time, patients are very exposed to bacteria and germs, and are at no position to defend their bodies. With cloned organs however, this process would be moot since the organs retain the same DNA as the patient, thus the immune system would not attack. This is what the article explains, and delves into. It raises the ethical question on whether growing clones just for harvesting body parts is right. While kidneys are simple to produce alone, other organs would be able to be made easier with the whole body intact. In fact, why not just grow a whole body and put it on storage until you need a part?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Scientists in battle over human cloning
Pean, H.(2001). Scientists in battle over human cloning. The Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution, p. A3. Retrieved October 4, 2010 from News Bank database: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.madonnaezp.liblime.com:2048/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EDC6D15E85992A5&p_docnum=6&p_queryname=1 (link may be broken)Following a report that three scientists were ready to start cloning 200 humans as early as November 2001, under the goal of attempting to produce offspring for those who have Infertility, Panos Zavos and Severino Antinori were bombarded with questions from opposing scientists. Most notable among the 28 scientists, was Ian Wilmut, famously known for creating Dolly, the first cloned sheep as well as Mammal. The article stresses Wilmut's and Rudolph Jaenisch as being deeply concerned about the thought of human cloning, especially when Zavos compares the process akin to cloning animals, which Wilmut stresses just isn't the same.
The article also gets a chance to talk about Brigitte Boisselier, director of Clonaid, the first human cloning company, and her views on the subject. I plan on using both sides to discuss both the ethics of current cloning, and the theoretical ethics of future cloning.
Lou Hawthorne. (2009). Six Reasons We’re No Longer Cloning Dogs
http://www.bioarts.com/press_release/ba09_09_09.htm
A company with a daring goal, focusing on untapped biotech markets, BioArts was most notable for the cloning of dogs, but succumbed to having to close down this service as of September, 2009. Feeling the need to, the company listed their reasons why. As Lou Hawthorne puts it, "we’ve now decided that it no longer makes sense for us to be in this market". Lou delves into the economics and ethics of clothing, and why both ultimately lead to the fall of his company. He suggests that there is little to no market for such a service, at least as of right now, as well as detailing how unethical black market schemes tricked customers into turning away from official cloners.
A company with a daring goal, focusing on untapped biotech markets, BioArts was most notable for the cloning of dogs, but succumbed to having to close down this service as of September, 2009. Feeling the need to, the company listed their reasons why. As Lou Hawthorne puts it, "we’ve now decided that it no longer makes sense for us to be in this market". Lou delves into the economics and ethics of clothing, and why both ultimately lead to the fall of his company. He suggests that there is little to no market for such a service, at least as of right now, as well as detailing how unethical black market schemes tricked customers into turning away from official cloners.
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