No I don't think cloning actual humans or animals is appropriate. However I think the science behind it should not go to waste. I think it would come in handy to clone say an ear for a patient who had to have their ear removed.
Clones. Considering any and all legal and moral contingencies, if medical science becomes able to artificially reproduce humans, should they?
I don't think so, Z. The only way I would find it useful would be to replace parts of my body. They'd have to only clone parts of my body, if they cloned the whole thing then it would have to be without a brain. If not we'd be into an ethical issue, there might even be ethical issues with just cloning body parts. Opening up a Pandora's box just for our own longevity or our legacy? At what price?
It goes back to my thoughts that "just because we can doesn't mean we should".
I don't think so. What if after cloning a human and for whatever reason you were unhappy with them, what then?
Honestly, I don't think cloning any animal is a good idea. As for cloning humans I think it is even worse. I saw a show or movie years ago where a couple wanted to clone their child who had passed away or was on life support. The doctors who were contacted to do the cloning refused. The explanation given was there was no way to duplicate the child they lost. First they were trying to replace a 5 years and it would take the full term of a pregnancy plus the 5 years to get a child the same age. Also even though the child would be a genetic duplicate, his life experiences would be different and therefore would have a different personality and outlook. There is no such thing as a true carbon copy when cloning.
not in my opinion
As you and Yin have already pointed out, the science is worthwhile. It may have many applications including organ replacement.
Cloning people may be about as useful (and as controversial) as cryogenic preservation but I suppose there's always the advantage that if I had a toothache i could send my clone to the dentist.
Human beings? . . . Depends upon the application. I believe that Human life is just that . . To create another human either by genetically cloning or by sex, the resulting human should have the same rights . . Regardless. This throws away the use of Clones for Organ harvesting. Their rights would/should also divorce them from being considered "Property" regardless of how they were created as well . . . "Intellectual" or otherwise.
I can think of a couple applications for Cloning . . . Single individual that wants to become a parent, Grieving parents having lost a child to name a couple.
Morally other then observed rights of all humans I can see no real moral dilemma. There should never be a question of the recreation of another individual, because it would be impossible to match exact Environmental and Experiential factors to achieve this. Legally, the people responsible for the creation, would be legally responsible for the creation as well. They should be held to the same "Safe Environment" critera that actual parents are.
