INDEX

SR.NO. CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1. An Introduction to Cloning 1-2

2. Human Cloning 3-4

3. The Process 5-6

4. Ethical Controversies 7

5. Advantages and Disadvantages 8

6. Conclusion 9

7. Sources 10
 An Introduction to Cloning
The word Clone means, Identical, identical in all aspects. In
biological point of view, two or more organisms are said to be clones
of each other if they are morphologically, anatomically and
more important, genetically identical. Clones have identical genome.
Since the protein synthesis and metabolism is controlled by
an organisms genome, clones are identical in all aspects.

Cloning is done by nature in many lower level organisms like

Monerans, Fungi, and in some eukaryotes

Cloning can be done artificially to produce genetically identical

organisms. Several methods have been developed to clone an
organism. The most applied method is Somatic Cell Nuclear
Transfer (SCNT). This method has been widely used to produce a
large number of identical organisms. The first fully cloned animal
was a sheep named Dolly. It was clone by SCNT technology.

In Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, a healthy egg is taken whose

nucleus is removed and disposed. Then a skin cell (somatic cell)
from the body of same/other organism is taken, its nucleus is
removed carefully and inserted into the previously enucleated egg
cell. Any cell from the body other than the reproductive cell is called
a Somatic Cell. It is not just inserted; it is fused with the hollow egg
using electricity. This fools the egg to have been fertilized. The
resulting embryo can be used to generate embryonic stem cells with
a genetic match to the nucleus donor (therapeutic cloning), or can
be implanted into a surrogate mother to create a cloned individual,
such as Dolly the sheep (reproductive cloning).

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 Human Cloning
Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a
human. The term is generally used to refer to artificial human
cloning, which is the reproduction of human cells and tissue. It does
not refer to the natural conception and delivery of identical twins.
The possibility of human cloning has raised controversies. These
ethical concerns have prompted several nations to
pass laws regarding human cloning and its legality.

With the cloning of a sheep known as Dolly in 1996 by somatic cell

nuclear transfer (SCNT), the idea of human cloning became a hot
debate topic. Many nations outlawed it, while a few scientists
promised to make a clone within the next few years.

Scientists say that it is in fact possible to clone a human by using the

famous SCNT. A cell, which contains DNA, is taken from the
person who is being cloned. Then the enucleated egg is fused together
with the cloning subject's cell using electricity. This creates an embryo,
which is implanted into a surrogate mother through in vitro
fertilization. If the procedure is successful, then the surrogate mother
will give birth to a baby that's a clone of the cloning subject at the end of a
normal gestation period. Success rate is estimated to be about 2%.

The first hybrid human clone was created in November 1998,

by Advanced Cell Technology. It was created using SCNT - a nucleus
was taken from a man's leg cell and inserted into a cow's egg from
which the nucleus had been removed, and the hybrid cell was
cultured, and developed into an embryo. The embryo was destroyed
after 12 days.

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 The Process
The following are the steps involved in cloning a human briefly. The
actual process is far more complex than what the steps here depict.

Step One:
First of all, you will need an unfertilized alive human egg. Scientists
get them from the egg banks where the eggs are stored safely in
an extremely cold environment, perhaps about -196 degree Celsius.

Step Two:
The next step is to obtain any cell from the body other that the
reproductive cells from the individual to be cloned. These cells are
called Somatic cells. They are preferably obtained from soft tissues
of the body where the cells are active and young.

Step Three:
After getting the somatic cell, the next step is to extract its nucleus
carefully. After the nucleus is extracted, the remaining part of the cell is
thrown away and the nucleus is kept safe for the following process.

Step Four:
Now we take the egg again and extract its nucleus. This time, we throw
the nucleus away and keep the hollow cell with us. Only the
enucleated cell is going to be part of the process.

Step Five:
Now we have all the raw material for the cloning process. In this
step, the nucleus extracted from the somatic cell is carefully injected
into the enucleated egg. But the process will be incomplete without
the next step.

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Step Six:
To make the cell actually work, the cell has to be activated by using
an electric spark. Then the nucleus fuses with the cell and forms a
kind of pseudo zygote. This is the last step of the human cloning.
Since we have produced a zygote, the rest of the process follows
the regular steps like embryogenesis etc. Further development of
the zygote needs it to be implanted into the uterus of a surrogate
mother. After complete growth, the individual will be an exact clone
of the person from whom the somatic cell was extracted.

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 Ethical Controversies
In bioethics, the ethics of cloning refers to a variety
of ethical positions regarding the practice and possibilities
of cloning, especially human cloning. While many of these views
are religious in origin, the questions raised by cloning are faced
by secular perspectives as well.
Some opponents of reproductive cloning have concerns that
technology is not yet developed enough to be safe - for example, the
position of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science as of 2014, while others emphasize that reproductive
cloning could be prone to abuse (leading to the generation of
humans whose organs and tissues would be harvested), and have
concerns about how cloned individuals could integrate with families
and with society at large.
Religious groups are divided, with some opposing the technology as
usurping God's (in monotheistic traditions) place and, to the extent
embryos are used, destroying a human life; others support
therapeutic cloning's potential life-saving benefits.
In 2015 it was reported that about 70 countries had banned human
cloning.

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 Advantages and Disadvantages
Many scientists believe that the process of cloning a human could be
very advantageous.
Couples who are not able to naturally conceive a child would
be able to clone themselves in order to have a biological child.
With human cloning, organs could be cloned from the persons
tissue and used as a transplant. This would effectively
eliminate the organ transplant waiting list.
Any severe birth defect that is detected in the womb could be
reversed using human cloning. They would simply take the
tissue of the child and create a clone.
There are also as many disadvantages of this technology.
The success rate is very low. Out of all the animal testing on
cloning that has been conducting, only about 3 percent have
been successful.
When you are creating entirely new forms of genes, you run
the risk of developing new illnesses and diseases. The extent
and effects of these could be devastating.
Religion and cultural problems have played the largest part in
the argument against human cloning. Many people believe that
cloning a human being is playing God and should not be done
under any circumstance.

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 Conclusion
In conclusion, people should be educated about cloning rather
than being told that it is against Gods will or that it can
become a weapon for countries or other kinds of possible
abuses. They should learn about this scientific process and
draw conclusions based on that, not on what they read in
novels or see in movies. Cloning is still a young technology and
we should understand that there could be some difficulties at
first, the same as any other technological improvement that we
have had throughout history. Therefore, only research about
its positive aspects will lead to its improvement and growth. To
ban this research would result in the loss of a technology that
could someday cure diseases, or prevent the deaths of people
who wait endlessly for an organ for transplant, or even give
hope to people who otherwise cannot make their own choices.
This scientific miracle is the result of the hard work of
thousands of researchers and physicians who are on the verge
of reaching their dreams to help other human beings. Why
should their efforts be wasted? Lets help them reach their
dreams, before it is too late.

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 Sources
en.wikipedia.org
www.hhmi.org
thenextgalaxy.com
www.scribd.com
www.humancloning.org
images.google.com

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