Why should we worry about cloning humans ? After all
nature does it with twins frequently and we don't really see this as
any sort of concern. The problem is that there are some clear
applications for this branch of biotechnology that most of us would feel
revolted by. Discussion of these
technical possibilities is a site of moral conflict for almost
everybody and the awareness of the issues that this will require, will
provide a framework that will be as controversial and far reaching as
Darwinism has been, probably further.
Utopia
To illustrate this, imagine a future society where the rich can live
for longer than the poor, where more of the wealth is owned by fewer
people for longer, where having children becomes a privilege, where a
slave class of sub-humans are employed to serve the needs of a few. All
of these things can be inferred from the possibilities inherent in
genetic and cloning technology.
Science Fiction
Many of the scientists involved dismiss this as science fiction as
cloning of adults is not currently possible, however most of the
scenario imagined above can be realised from existing gene technology.
Although the scientists themselves do not have transgeneic super model
clones on their mind right now, the pharmaceutical companies and their
investors realise the potential of such possibilities, not only to
generate share price movement in the short term but to 'force' the
issue (they would perhaps phrase this as 'being the best in their
field' or 'being first' but it amounts to the same thing).
Contradictions
The problem is that the same technology that can supply us the
'overman' can also potentially find a cure for cancer or AIDS or
produce drought/insect resistant crops. So what do we do, let the drug
companies get on with and hope it wont be too late to legislate when we
are faced with our first transhuman (mutant), or spare body parts
supplier (taken from cloned bodies). What would you do if asked for a
DNA sample at a job interview ? an insurance company ? a prospective
school for your child ? the government ? Or are we just body fascists
who simply can't face anything that doesn't meet our version of
'human'.
Artificial Twinning
Cloning from adult cells is difficult, as we get older we accumulate
random mutations in our genes and cells become specialised and turn off
genes. However is already possible to produce a potentially unlimited
number of identical embryos, store them and implant them for
development in any suitable female host at a later date. Why not store
some copies of your next child and if they turn out all right then you
could sell the 'proven' embryo's to anybody who wanted a child. As
women already sell 'hosting' services for embryo's it would easy just
to buy a child of your choice even if you were a single male. Although
legislation already exists in some countries to protect against 'baby
farming' these are fairly easy to circumvent through sham marriages, or
going 'offshore'.
Transgenic Animals
The drug companies and scientists have built specialised animals
containing human genes so that tissue products from these animals can
be used in drug manufacture. Many thousands of transgenic animals are
routinely produced for research and experimentation. You can even
purchase transgeneic mice built to order over the internet. There is
currently no limit on how much human material could be included in a
target host. Currently monkeys are a popular choice for researchers
into human disease, how human should we make a monkey before it becomes
human ?
Adult Cloning
Although it is not currently possible to takes adult cells from a human
and implant them in an embryo, this has recently been achieved with
sheep and is surely high on the agenda for many drug companies and
researchers. There are rumours that it has already been done. This
allows for the possibility of making copies of yourself for later use,
perhaps spare parts or how about your brain in a younger body ?
Definitely the ultimate product, life itself and the only thing that
stands between it and us is a little research.
Brave New Profits
The writing is clearly on the wall as far as genetic technology is
concerned most of the major players are convinced that gene therapy
will make them rich. It doesn't take a lot of biological knowledge to
realise the potential when you consider that 3,000 diseases are known
to be genetically based.
Here is an insiders view of how the industry will develop;
"Initially, industry growth will be fastest in companies
concentrating on the pursuit of gene discovery, laboratory testing, and diagnostic
product development. We will also see more pharmaceutical company R&D
dollars shifted to related applications in therapeutics, involving gene
therapy and disease intervention of predisposed conditions. After that,
it won't take long for managed care companies to begin to see the cost
benefits of triaging members with family histories of genetic disease
into different treatment and disease prevention protocols. "
-Dan Angress, director of marketing, Specialty Laboratories
California
'managed care companies' is an Americanism and in this case what it
really means to most is the governments public health system.
'Triaging' although laden with 'ER' connotations actually means
'classifying' by keeping a sample of the DNA on file to be tested
against new gene therapies as they arrive. For example it is possible
to see if you have a genetic disposition to colon cancer already from a
blood sample. Other tests may be available as the research progresses
in future years. Now it is logical that rather than go back and give
another sample when the next test has been discovered to simply leave a
sample of your DNA on file so it can be tested against the newer tests
as they arrive and you can be notified if there is a problem. It is
only a small step from testing for a disease to testing for something
else. It is only a small step for insurance companies to start offering
substantial discounts for those that will have the 'test', for asking
competing job applicants for an important position to take the 'test'
or they may not be judged so favorably. What about your spouse, you may
love them but do they have the best genes for your children after all
?
References
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