Blog 11: CLONES

For my first article of research, I decided to read Analysis of an epigenetic argument against human reproductive cloning by Anders Nordgren.  The article is about human reproductive cloning.  This scientific advancement would allow DNA collected from a possibly infertile couple to be cloned into human being.  The benefits would be that this would allow the couple to avoid the social awkwardness and complications of using a third-party donation of gametes or embryos.  The main problem that the article argues is the risk involved.  Animal reproductive cloning presents the risk of abnormalities and birth defects due to errors in epigenetic reprogramming.  The argument being that if there is a high risk of abnormalities due to errors in epigenetic reprogramming in reproductive cloning with animals, then there is a high risk of abnormalities in human reproductive cloning because of these errors in reprogramming.  The benefits of this scientific option does not out-weigh the risk because the possible risk is unacceptable and unethical.  The article further argues that there is also a risk of abnormality with normal sexual intercourse.  If in the future improvements in cloning allow for the risks to be no higher than the risks involved in procreating through sexual intercourse, then cloning could become an acceptable option.  For human reproductive cloning, it’s ethical acceptance is all about finding the balance between benefit and risk.

            This topic can be easily linked to the technology used in Dollhouse.  This technology presents a high risk to the subjects of an error in programming that cannot be morally accepted.