Cloning is a subject that most people dont really like to discuss because it causes such a debate and most people only believe what they have seen or heard from the media. During the cloning procedure DNA from the somatic cell is removed and placed inside of an egg in which the nucleus has been removed. That egg is then placed inside of the animals stomach until birth. The whole process is kind of like that of a surrogate mother. Although the media and society seem to think that humans have been cloned, it is false. Scientists have yet to clone a human. Animals have been cloned, starting with mice, then cows, sheep, and chicken. It was not until 1996, however, that researchers succeeded in cloning the first mammal from a mature (somatic) cell taken from an adult animal. After 276 attempts, Scottish researchers finally produced Dolly, the lamb from the udder cell of a 6-year-old sheep. ( :// .genome.gov/25020028/cloning-fact-sheet/) Plants clone naturally through asexual reproduction which we learn about in class. This process is where 1 parent cell produces genetically identical copies. Although they are called clones and they look identical, it is not guaranteed that they will have the same personality. Personality is only partly genetic the rest is dependent on how it is raised. There are some positives to cloning contrary to popular belief. One of the major positives is that we can rebuild the population of animals that are in danger of extinction. There are also drawbacks to cloning, studies have shown that cloning may cause increased birth size, a shorter life span, and defects in the vital organs. Dolly the lamb is a prime example who only lived to be six when lambs typically live an average of 12 years. Some people also feel that cloning a human would be against some religious beliefs as well as take away from their personal identity. I do believe that cloning should definitely be regulated. We should only clone animals that are at a high risk of extinction and that also pose no direct threat to society. Clones are used for research purposes only at the present time so there are no clones on the market right now. No, I have not seen The Island. Word Count: 376 Source: Nicholas Karpf
