HUMAN CLONING: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract

The author refers to biomedical and genetic aspects of human cloning, and theirinfl uences on the ethical and legal aspects of human cloning. Human cloning is a part of geneticengineering, however it is still in an experimental phase. It refers to gene cloning, DNA cloning,cell and tissue cloning, and organism cloning. Organism clone is a genetically identical duplicateof the original entity, and it is produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer, in which the nucleusof an egg cell (containing its genetic material) is removed and replaced with the nucleus of asomatic cell taken from the body of an adult. Another method refers to splitting of an embryo inearly stages. As to applying cloning methods, there are two methods, the fi rst implies reproductionof entire organisms, and the second refers to stem cells production, that are used for therapeuticalpurposes. The cloning implies questioning of identity and purpose of the clone itself, anddraws numerous ethical and legal implications. The ethical issue of cloning is still lingering, andremains unsolved and therefore the whole problem is shifted to the legal grounds.