Cloning

            
            
             Advances in science and technology over the years have led to controversies and ethical questions and today is no different. Cloning has brought up debate and controversy wherever it is brought up. But to be more specific human cloning is the topic at hand. There have been successful attempts at cloning other various species but none have brought up such ethical questions and debate like human cloning have.
             To take a look at the possibilities of cloning a human you have to take a look at where human cloning has been, where it is now and where it may go in the future. In 1997 it was announced that a sheep was successfully cloned by a group of Scottish scientists. Since then the list of cloned species have grown to mice, cows, and various other animals. So after looking at this one must ask what would stop scientists from pushing the envelope and pursue the cloning of a human being? For one, many countries have laws prohibiting the experimentation of human cloning. But many countries still do not have any laws banning the experimentation of human cloning. Another aspect is the cost of the research, the testing, and the facilities to conduct such a project. The budget needed for the research and actual procedure alone would be quite high. Top that off with a payroll for the scientists and the costs of the facility and necessary equipment and that would put the price tag even higher.
             Yet the knowledge and the technological advances are there. Many say that you can slow the progression of human cloning but it will never be stopped. The seed has been planted and it is growing on the minds of some of the worlds leading scientists. The effects of cloning are not all negative. For example if someone needs an organ transplant or has a chronic disease like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. The way this is possible is by using Therapeutic cloning. This is the use of cloning for the sole purpose of healing or helping a patient.