6 Pros and Cons of Animal Cloning

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6 Pros and Cons of Animal Cloning

The first animal clone to have ever been created was named Dolly in 1996. The female sheep was created from an adult somatic cell and was cloned through the process of nuclear transfer, thanks to the efforts of Sir Ian Wilmut, Kieth Campbell, and several other associates. Today, Dolly the Sheep is regarded as one of the greatest human achievements, but on the other side of celebration, there is massive opposition. Many have protested this form of study and experimentation as cloning is still a topic of debate for many people.

List of Pros of Animal Cloning

1. Maintenance of Biodiversity
There are countless species of animals whose existence is being threatened thanks to climate change and poaching. Many of these creatures are inching closer and closer to extinction, despite the efforts of animal sanctuaries and volunteers who fight for them. In this aspect, cloning can prove to be a solution to help guide these creatures towards greater numbers, thus resolving the issue of endangered species.

2. Transplantation
One of the medical benefits of animal cloning is that specific cells from certain organs and body parts can be taken and cloned for transplantation. This is particularly ideal for people with diseases that target specific parts of their system. By cloning their cells instead of finding a donor, doctors can eliminate the chances of rejection.

3. Better Food
Animals that are raised and farmed for their meat can produce better products if the good and healthy characteristics of their species are maintained through cloning. This leads to better quality food and possibly healthier diets for all humankind.

List of Cons of Animal Cloning

1. Lack of Diversity
When animals are cloned to reproduce their best traits, certain characteristics that might not actually be negative could be lost forever. This would in turn create a very monotonous species with limited capabilities.

2. Weak Species
If a species is propagated through cloning, they could become significantly less capable of fighting off disease. This is because they all possess the same immunity and thus the same defenses against illness. If one clone is susceptible to a certain illness, expect all others to be the same way.

3. Moral Issues
For some, the creation of living creatures is strictly the power and ability of a higher force that we can’t replicate. This goes against many religious beliefs, which has become the foundation for many debates today.