Governmental Regulation Of Cloning Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive T

Governmental Regulation Of Cloning    For years, the prospect of human cloning was fodder for outrageous science-fiction stories and nothing more. However, in more recent times, human cloning has moved significantly closer to becoming a reality. Accordingly, the issue has evoked a number of strong reactions, both praising and condemning the procedure. The fact that human cloning not just affects human lives indirectly but actually involves tinkering with human creation has forced human cloning into a position of controversy. The progress of the issue of human cloning, then, has been shaped not only by the abilities and resources of scientists but by public opinion and by governmental regulation that has resulted from public pressure.    Although the issue of human cloning has received the most attention within the last two years, cloning techniques have existed since the late 1970s. The cloning technique used at this time was a process called artificial twinning which involved split ting a single fertilized ovum into what are then considered new embryos and then implanting each into a female to be carried to term (religioustolerance.org 1). These experiments, however, were limited to animals. By the 1980s and early 1990s, during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, restrictions had been placed on the research of the cloning of human beings. The pro-life groups, which have considerabl e influence in the Republican party, held many concerns about the experimentation and destruction of human embryos, which they consider people with rights, thus they pressured the administration for restrictions on research (cac.psu.edu 1). A series of measures prohibiting federal funding for human cloning were thus implem ent... ...ly praised, but science that interferes with the creation of human life is seen by many as entirely different. People are still unsure as to whether or not and to what extent scientists should be involved in such a realm. This is, in fact, the prevailing view. Consequently, the field of human cloning has been shaped by these attitudes. At present, human cloning both nationally and internationally is essentially an unacceptable practice. Whether scientists such as Richard Seed will be successful remains to be seen, but the consensus seems to be that the world is not yet ready for full-blown human cloning. Accordingly, efforts have been made to impede the scientific process and to push human cloning into the distant future.    Works Cited Bovsun, Mara. "Flaws seen in proposed bans on cloning." Http://biz.yahoo.com/upi/98/02/13/general_views/usscience_4.html.