Animal Cloning Pros and Cons

When the first cloned sheep Dolly arrived in this world, the world media was taken aback by the medical breakthrough scientists had achieved. Cloning has been since then regarded to be one of the most debated topics in the media and amidst erudite biologists, religious priests and animal lovers. The debate on pros and cons of animal cloning, mind you, is endless. Since we all agree to disagree and each one of us has a right to opine, it seems logical to take a neutral stand and study both facets of cloning. That will, for sure, not solve the ethical issues related to animal or even human cloning, but it is surely a more wiser step.

Pros and Cons of Animal Cloning
With the concept of cloning gaining appreciable success in the last 10 years, it is said that if human beings succeed in getting total control over cloning, they will be able to 'create life'. The power to create life is a territory that separates the creator from the creation; humans from God (for those who believe in existence of God). So is man on the way to become God?

Pros
Some of the potential benefits of cloning are certainly thought provoking. Improvement in animal breeding, for instance, is one of the most beneficial aspects of cloning animals. During the process of animal breeding, when two species of same or different breeds are crossed, the probability of healthy offspring, with desired traits can't be predicted with mathematical accuracy. Hence, in many animal breeding cases, there are unhealthy, diseased and weak offspring. Cloning eliminates this threat as it helps in production of replica of the animal that is required. So in essence, we can breed cattle as per our desire with no sick or deformed animals. It can eventually boost cattle production business all across the world. Moreover, healthy domesticated animals can be produced in large number for food sources. This will further help in alleviating problems of world hunger. One of the other pros of animal cloning is that it will help in saving endangered species who're facing threats of extinction. This is apparently a very beneficial aspect of animal cloning.

Similarly, proponents of animal cloning support that cloning will help in protection of animals from constant risks of animal testing. It has to be understood that there are numerous animal testing cons that innocent animals have to face during experiments. Due to cloning, once if any laboratory test is done on an animal, say a rat, it will be standardized and fixed for rats with same genetic features. This will also lead to better results and accuracy in predicting outcome of any medicine or drug. Otherwise, till now results of laboratory tests are said not be immaculate as a cat X may not respond in a same fashion to a drug as another cat Y owing to differences in individual entities. Further, the debate enthusiasts argue that cloning animals is beneficial in a way that it helps in creation of new organs. Applied on the same principles, if that process is successful in humans, an individual in requirement of a kidney, leg, liver or heart will be able to get it by the help of cloning!

Cons
Just like animal cloning pros, there are several animal cloning cons. High cost of research and whopping amount of money spend on cloning process makes it as a very expensive procedure. Making cloning a mainstream part of social life still seems to be an impractical option. Financial feasibility is very important for any new medical breakthrough to succeed. Hence, when it comes to economics, animal cloning fails. Results of cloning have also not been amazingly beneficial as many experiments on cloning have failed with poor results.

There hasn't been any major scientific evidence on health and well-being of cloned animals for domestication purposes. Although, FDA has been studying risks of eating foods derived from cloned animals and it has even said in 2008 that meats and dairy products of cloned animals are not harmful, Americans are still not very comfortable in accepting foods from such cloned animals. Also, risks of alterations at microscopic levels in the cells of such cloned animals hasn't been denied completely by medical fraternity. Definitely, the FDA needs to conduct more research and studies. However, it is not unlikely that foods sourced from cloned animals will be in the markets within four to five years from now.

Amongst scholars, the most frightening aspect of animal cloning is the argument that what if human beings with nefarious pursuits use animal and human cloning as a weapon to wipe out peace and humanity in various nations? Threats of biological and chemical terrorism have advanced to alarming proportions in this cyber era. Is there any guarantee that extremists won't use such a advanced concept to achieve their objectives? We all have seen in war movies, dangers of any invention or discovery if it goes in the wrong hands.

So what of animal cloning? Should it be allowed or must it be limited? But then, who will define the limits? Poor and developing countries can't invest eye popping money in R&D of animal cloning as they are grappling with their own problems. Developed countries can think of it but then what about numerous threats cloning brings with it? As I said earlier in this article, this debate continues. Join us in this debate on pros and cons of cloning by giving your valuable views in the 'comments column' below. We will ensure that your views reach millions of readers spread all across the globe.