Is Human Cloning Possible?

There are some critical topics that are controversial in the scientific world, that the overwhelming majority of societies do not find ethical, and that have been blocked by legal means. human cloning is one of these topics. Although this subject, which has been discussed for years, comes to the fore again from time to time with the developments in cloning studies, scientists say that cloning is not yet possible and has not been done yet.

However, of course, we can hear strange news that this process is done from time to time in the shadow of all these discussions in human cloning, as in many other issues. So is there any truth to these news? What does science say about the possibility and difficulties of human cloning? The most important discussion ethical issue How does it affect human cloning efforts? “Science or Fiction? new topic of our series human cloning. Let’s take a look at the details together.

Let’s start at the beginning: What is cloning?

Cloning, in its simplest definition, is the asexual reproduction of a living species. making a genetic copy can be explained as All DNA sequences of the clone are identical to the genetically copied donor. So again, in its simple form, it is an exact copy.

How is cloning performed?

Cloning is done by two different methods. The first of these is ‘twins’, which actually mimics the naturally occurring method that enables twins to become ‘twins’.artificial embryo matching‘ method. This method is realized by imitating the method that creates twins in a laboratory environment. In the first moments after the fertilization of the egg and sperm, at the very beginning of fertilization, each half of the embryo continues to divide on its own and eventually develops into separate, complete individuals. Individuals that arise because they develop from the same fertilized egg genetically identical. The artificial embryo method also applies this process exactly, but the process is done in a petri dish instead of the mother’s uterus, and then the surrogate is placed in the mother’s uterus.

The other method issomatic cell nucleus transfer The method known as (SCNT). In this method, the nucleus of an egg cell is removed and the remaining cell contents are fused with the somatic cell taken from the creature to be cloned. This egg cell is then given a signal to initiate division, and an embryo begins to develop. This is the method that scientists use when cloning many animals. For example, making cloning a development that everyone is aware of. dollycloned by this method.

Cloning is actually a method that scientists often use:

While it originally stayed with Dolly for many, cloning is now being practiced by scientists on various animals. a method often used. This concept, which existed before Dolly the Sheep, has also been abundantly realized after. Cows, cats, deer, mice, and finally a monkey type was cloned using the same method.

More interestingly, it has even become a kind of trading material now. So much so that it is possible to create an exact copy or clone of your pet; of course, by paying a substantial sum of money.

Let’s come to the most important question; Is it possible to clone humans?

It is very difficult to give a clear answer on this matter. The reason is that any kind of work on human cloning is banned in many countries of the world. However, in recent years news from china Afterwards, this debate flared up again. This news was about the first cloned monkeys. In fact, although more than 20 mammals have been cloned over the years, studies on monkeys have often been unsuccessful. However, in 2018, news came from China that would change this information completely; A primate species has been cloned for the first time. The primate species in question was the macaque monkey, and two healthy clones were born. When it comes to cloning a primate, he immediately brought the subject back to human cloning.

What fuels the controversy Lack of a strict ban on cloning studies in China. This often leads to claims such as ‘human cloning studies are being carried out in China’. However, since such a study will garner a great reaction in the rest of the world, although it is an open answer to the doubt; Even if there is, it is not possible for us to learn. At this point, he says that many scientists from China do not have any studies on human cloning ‘due to the existing reactions and the bans in the rest of the world’. Scientific circles also think that they will withdraw themselves due to the reaction of the scientists who will do this.

But if we look at it from a scientific point of view and try to give an answer; human cloning, that is, a genetic copy of a human being created and born in a surrogate mother’s body, ‘It’s not impossible.

Why is human cloning work banned, why is it getting backlash?

First of all, let’s consider this prohibition from a scientific point of view; As you can imagine, most of the scientific studies done during the cloning process fail. Hundreds of trial results In the few trials where everything goes well, a clone is born.

For example, in the macaque monkey cloning studies we just mentioned, 63 surrogate mothers and 417 eggs was needed. Only 6 of them resulted in pregnancy.

Likewise, in the studies carried out until Dolly the sheep was born. Only one in 100 cloned embryos was able to survive. In addition, in various cloning studies clones born with major defects it happened too. This causes many authorities to not allow such experiments on humans. because Such experiments are unethical.

Another part is society’s view of human cloning. Many studies on societies so far show that the view of human cloning is not very warm. The idea that the human species reproduces ‘without reproducing as we know it’ is very important at this point. As a result, the society has not yet accepted this idea, and we can say that it is uncertain whether it will continue in the future.

Still, there are places where ‘restricted’ cloning of human embryos is allowed for scientific research;

The main point in this regard is to create an exact copy of an adult human and bring it into the world. But apart from that, especially for research in the field of health; For example, cloning studies that will allow the production of compatible organs to be used in procedures such as organ transplantation are a grayer area. Therapeutic (therapeutic) cloning There are various researches in this field. But this is not a cloning process in the sense that we understand when we say ‘human cloning’. It is done to contribute to health science and to fight diseases effectively, and a clone does not come to the world.

Let’s end with a different perspective: Imagine that you are cloned one day; Will your clone be the same person as you?

Since we have answered general questions such as is it scientifically possible or ethical, let’s bring up the issue of human cloning with a different perspective. Especially in science fiction moviesIn the human cloning process that appears in futuristic or dystopian stories, it is exactly the same as the human being cloned; all that manThere is an image with ‘. Naturally, this brings such a scene to life when we think of a human clone.

But actually that is not the case. Because, besides genetic and physical characteristics, another factor that creates people is also environmental factors. Moreover experiences, experiences Like all kinds of ‘story’ makes the person unique. So if you’re cloned, your clone actually has the same genetics as you. will not be the same person as you. Because the way he experiences life, the environment and conditions he lives in will change completely.

Also, in science fiction movies, we see that clones exist directly as an adult, not as a newborn baby. However, this is not possible scientifically, and no scientific study carried out so far has allowed such a situation.

What are you thinking? What do you think ‘What is the place of ‘human cloning’ in the future of humanity?? Do not forget to share your views with us in the comments, see you!

Sources: Source 1, Source 2 Source 3, Source 4, Source 5