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Clones Aren't
Exact Copies
There is some misunderstanding about what constitutes a
clone.
A human clone would be the genetic identical
twin, a generation or more younger, of the donor (not the surrogate
mother) who provided the nucleus. But because people are more than a
product of their genes, a clone would have its own personality,
character, intelligence, and talents exactly as identical twins do (who
are natural clones stemming from the same egg). You cannot clone a
person's brain or mind, and chance factors, the environment, and a
person's experiences contribute to individual traits.
This means that even if you wanted to, you
cannot duplicate your identical self. Even if you were to clone yourself
several times, you would not be able to create the same person each time
because every human life, no matter how conceived, is unique. A cloned
Hitler would not necessarily grow up to be a mass murderer nor would a
twin of Mother Teresa become a humanitarian.
It is also impossible to copy a deceased family member or a past
historical figure through cloning the cells from their corpses. The same
applies to dead persons that have been frozen, because you need live DNA
to make a clone.
As medical ethicists plunged into a debate about cloning human
beings, a new poll indicated that the American public strongly opposes
the concept of cloning people.
Some 87 percent of Americans say the cloning of humans should be
banned, according to a new poll released by ABC News Nightline program.
Eighty-two percent said cloning human beings would be morally wrong,
and 93 percent said they personally would not choose to be cloned.
The Information & Entertainment
Center
Resources:
Latest Cloning News
Cloning Archives
Web Sites of Interest
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CLONE:
The Road to Dolly,
and the Path
Ahead
The Clone Age
Clones and
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