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Advanced Expository Writing
ENGL 249S-02 * Fall 2003

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Cloning

Some consider these new technologies "dangerous," although many also consider them scientific marvels of the computer and information age. Read a variety of sites, look at as many sides of the issues as you can find, and think carefully about the philosophical arguments involved with implementing these technologies. As this is rather "bleeding edge" stuff, try to find the most recent information possible. Some of the sites below are as "old" as 1997. Make sure you check dates whenever possible.

There are lots of sites out there on cloning: human cloning, sheep cloning (remember Dolly?), cell cloning for medical purposes, and others. I've provided a sampling below.

  • Tara Abatemarco's link is from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory: "This cloning fact sheet comes from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory website. There are many misconceptions and uncertianties I have about how cloning actually is done, and how successful scientists have been in the past. This page is really good place to start for anyone outside the scientific field who wants basic or detailed information, as well as suggested links from there for more specific information."

  • Becky Allen sends this link from Guardian Unlimited: "The Guardian Unlimited is a United Kingdom news source. Their website provides a refreshingly clear, interactive explanation of both therapeutic and reproductive cloning. There are links to the Roslin Institute, the human genome project, and other detailed U.S. education sites regarding cloning."

  • Marshall Annis suggests this link from New Scientist: "Shaoni Bhattacharya¹s article discusses how a new study suggests that amniotic fluid may hold ³ethical² stem cells. Scientist¹s are not sure yet if amniotic fluid contains stem cells, but have found that it contains traces of the protein Oct-4 which is used by stem cells. More research needs to be done but this is potentially a source for stem cells other than embryos."

  • Deepak Arora sends this link from the Los Angeles Gerontology Research Group: "Shirley Tilghman, Ph.D. and David Baltimore, Ph.D. begin a commentary by supporting cloning for therapeutic purposes. Kristin Hansen follows up by stating how wrong it is, but is refuted HEAVILY by L. Stephen Coles, M.D., Ph.D., along with some nasty remarks on Hansen's intelligence. This kind of commentary just shows just how strongly people feel on the subject."

  • Paul Chuong's link is a factsheet from the Oak Ridge National Lab Human Genome Project Information: "The Human Genome Project is dedicated to the observation and education of human biology and DNA. This link from their website is a "Cloning Fact Sheet." On this sheet many basic questions about cloning are addressed, such as what it is, what animals have been cloned, it's risks, and other basic information. What makes this site truly informative is that it also presents links on the issue of cloning ethics, providing commentary about the issue along with cloning's basic facts."

    • Here is John Fleming's link from ThinkQuest.org: "The Think Quest Library has an article on cloning that includes a definition of cloning and a very simplified account of how Dolly the sheep was cloned. Pros, such as the quality and quantity of beef are mentioned. Cons, such as the quality of life for cloned humans are also given.

    • Chris Gilmore's link is from BioNetOnline.org: "The author of this article entitled "Human Cloning-The Risks", elaborates on the dangers of cloning, including the availability of the process to unauthorized groups and the birth defects and deformities that are characteristic of this procedure. The famous cloned sheep, Dolly, is mentioned several times, most significantly when the author provides that Dolly was the only sheep out 227 attempts to make it to a live birth. This, along with several other statistics clearly puts into perpective the dangers and consequences should humans begin cloning ourselves.

      • Stefanie Kealey's link is from CordBlood.com: "The Cord Blood Registry (CBR) is a company that stores and processes cord stem cells. Stem cells extracted from the blood in the umbilical cord can differentiate into other types of cell tissue in the body. Expecting parents enroll in CBR, blood is collected from the umbilical cord when the child is born, and is then stored at the CBR's laboratory. The stem cells are therefore readily available should your child or family member need treatment.

    • Kristy Klein sends this link from the Canadian medical journal Annals RCPSC: "Patricia A. Baird argues in "Should Human Cloning be Permitted?" that we need to focus less on the effects that cloning would have at the individual level, and more on how it would affect future generations and society as a whole. She acknowledges all of the possibilities of cloning, but says that there needs to be some type of legislature put in place before it gets out of hand.

    • Julie Lauenger's link is from WorldBook.com: "This website gives a brief history of cloning since a cloned lamb named Dolly was born in 1996. A single nucleated cell from an adult body can control the development of a complete organism. Clones of a mouse and pig serve as research for sources of organs for human organ transplants and for cloning of humans."

  • Paul Lavoie and Sophie Moravej both send the HumanCloning.org website: Paul says, "HumanCloning.org, a website made by the Human Cloning Foundation, is an excellent resource for human cloning information. The site contains forums, essays, a list of books, articles, and a list of prominent people who advocate the human cloning cause." Sophie adds: "www.humancloning.org is the official site of the Human Cloning Foundation. The site provides, with acute aggrandizement, a message board, private chat rooms, published essays, book advertisements and a free newsletter. This non-profit organization is one of the biggest supporters of cloning and other forms of biotechnology."

  • Jeffrey Lees's [unadjusted] annotation is from Physicians Magazine: "John F. Kilner, Ph.D. explains what cloning is, the cost-benefit analysis and personal thoughts concerning cloning.  "Cloning is just the tip of a much larger genetic iceberg" which is being used for personal benefit without a full understanding of the consequences.  Showing a good or great benefit is no justification for an action, especially one with complicated consequences."

  • Blake Loscalzo's link is an intro to cloning from an unnamed member of Tripod.com: "This is a beginners site composed of information on cloning. It contains experiments about recently cloned organisms and the procedures invoved in their replication. The authors main goal in the article is to teach readers about cloning and not give his personal opinions."

  • April Mahoney sends this link from the National Institute of Health: "The National Institute of Health's page entitled "Stem Cell Basics" is clearly supporting stem cell research. The NIH provides information concerning what stem cells are, how they are grown, and the potential benefits of using them for research. Many diagrams and a glossary help the non-scientist reader to understand and visualize the information contained within this article."

  • Kevin Manoni's link is from the Connecticut Catholic Conference: "THERAPUETIC CLONING: THE UNTHINKABLE HAS BECOME REALITY by Marie T. Hilliard, Ph.D., RN. The Connecticut Catholic Conference voices the Church¹s opinion on many current legislative priorities. This article condemns all forms of cloning and focuses on how the government may pass legislation ³to ban cloning², but will effectively allow therapeutic cloning and not allow reproductive cloning. Adult stem cell transplantation is offered as an alternative to Somatic nuclear cell transfer."

  • Taki Naito's site is from the Genetic Science Learning Center: "The Genetic Science Learning Center at the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Utah posted an important webpage on the risks of cloning.(http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/cloning/cloningrisks/) Four main cloning risks, which includes high failure rate, problems during later development, abnormal gene expression patterns and telomeric differences are discussed about in great depth to show how cloning is not highly efficient as of today.

  • Katie O'Keeffe sends this link from New Scientist: "NewScientist.com focuses entirely on the topic of cloning and stem cell research.  Included in this site are a variety of articles and essays all focused on the topic of cloning or it's sub-topics such as amniotic fluid, embryos, and the concept of the 'Virgin Birth' or more specifically, Dolly. 'From agriculture to medicine, from psychology to law, New Scientist's team has followed the potential impact of cloning and stem cell technology every step of the way.'"

  • Michelle Spangle provides the ReproductiveCloning.net website: "Dr. Gregory Stock says the government has allowed religion to shape legislation in prohibiting cloning research. He points out that if Catholic dogma was the nation's guide, birth control would be illegal, children of in-vitro fertilization would not exist, and evolution would not be taught in school. He says the experiments are aimed at enhancing our well being and the U.S. is naive to think such legislation will actually prevent the research."

  • Jan Voolstra suggests this link from Genetics-and-Society.org: "Richard Hayes, in an article from Worldwatch magazine asks, 'Will new genetic technologies be carefully controlled for their benefits or will they inadvertently destroy civil society? Say hello to the post-human ideology.' He then goes on to explain the dangers that cloning will have, only to end his article by talking about the theraputic and pharmacological benefits that cloning may have on society."

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This page was created as technical support for Kathrine Aydelott's ENGL 249S Course, Fall 2003. Created Aug 19, 2003. Last updated Sept. 23, 2003.