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August 03, 2005
I think we're a clone now
On the news today, I learned that some scientists in Korea had managed to clone a dog. This is amazing, yet creepy news. There can be great medical advances to be had from cloning, but I also think it'd be unethical to create exact, fully-functional duplicates of humans and animals.
Nowadays, you can get a clone of your pet cat for about $50,000. How stupid is that? Understandably, people who lose a pet want to keep the pet's memory alive. God knows I was a wreck when my cat died, and then when we had to put my dog to sleep. But I wouldn't want clones of them.
First, a clone is NOT your pet. I've always been of the opinion that personalities are shaped by environment in addition to genetics. There's no way a clone of me that grew up in (for example) Outer Mongolia would be in any way like me. Look at that excellent Schwarzenegger-DeVito vehicle, Twins. One is shady and lowbrow, while the other is a superman. That was in large part to their environment. I don't see a clone of a pet turning out the way you want them.
Even if somebody cloned me, it wouldn't be me. It'd be a copy of me. I'd have no control over him, or how he thinks and acts. That's crazy talk.
Additionally, there are millions of perfectly good animals just waiting in the shelter to be adopted. I'd have a hard time justifying dropping thousands of dollars to make a copy of my old pet when I can rescue one from the pound. I'd feel guilty that some other animal died at my expense.
Posted by oz115 at August 3, 2005 01:21 PM