Cloning Humans
 a mutant future ?

     

    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




Référence: http://www.deepdisc.com/baa.html