Cloning and Genetic Research

[SkinWalker]

There have been several threads in the Senate dealing with cloning technology and/or influancing the genes of humans, animals or plants. Here's a few:

 

Head Transplants

Cloning & Birth

A Genetic Cure for Stupidity

For or against cloning technologies?

 

In view of these threads and taking into consideration recent news and technological developments, what are your thoughts on cloning and genetics?

 

Mind you, these are two different concepts. It's common for people (particularly polititians that consider themselves in the so-called "moral majority") to make these concepts synonomous. Cloning is the creation of another organism using only one set of DNA and only one donor's chromosomes. Genetic manipulation, gene splicing, gene therapy, etc. implies manipulation of the genetic material at the chromosomal or smaller level in order to effect change.

 

Here's a recent bit of news in cloning:

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0028503.cfm

 

A quote from the above source:

Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback's legislation banning human cloning is stalled because 14 senators — nine Republicans and five Democrats — have not made up their minds on the issue, leaving the bill with only 40 solid Senate supporters, according to Joseph D'Agostino, associate editor of Human Events.

"In general, I think these senators don't want to commit themselves either way on an issue before they have to, and this way they avoid alienating one side or the other," D'Agostino said. "So why should they make a decision on the issue until they have to?"

 

Here's a bit of Genetic News: http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=12246

Genetic Information Nondescrimination Act Passes Unanimously

So much for GATTACA

 

By N. Alex Rupp: Tuesday 21 October 2003, 11:29

 

CONGRESS.ORG -- "By a unanimous vote of 95 yeas (Vote No. 377), Senate passed S. 1053, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment, as amended." This is great news. We're never going to need to submit DNA samples to see if we qualify for that raise or promotion at our jobs, or to get into good schools, like they did in the sci-fi flick "Gattaca". At first I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I read the fine print and almost spit milk out through my nose.

[obi]

Well, I don't really think cloning is a good idea. So many things could go wrong, you can't even count.

 

Genetic research, however, I think actually helps us. Say, if Genetic research could make unmovable limbs move again. I know the way I am putting probably sounds dumb, but I am not a very scientific person.

 

The best example I can think of is Christiphor Reeve. (Superman from the movies)

 

He had a horse riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. I don't think he can even turn his head. However, if genetic research can provide some sort of implants or new cells, or anything of that nature, that would get his body moving again, I think that would be absolutely wonderful.