Is Animal Cloning Morally Right?

Kelly Waldon        

Professor Fortier

PHIL 2100

2/26/16

Is Animal Cloning Morally Right?

Animal cloning refers to a biotechnological process where the reproduction of an entire animal occurs from a single cell of a parent animal (Panno 6). The reproduced animal becomes a clone, which is an exact duplicate of the parent animal. The clone and parent animal have the same DNA. Animal cloning has evolved with the advancement in the biotechnology field. The first remarkable case of cloning animals occurred to a sheep by the name “Dolly the Sheep”. This case was successful as the sheep, later on, reproduced naturally. Subsequently, there have been various successful cases of cloning animals such as horses, rats, cats and even human beings (Panno 15). Animal cloning has now extended to fulfill reproduction, non-reproduction, and therapeutic purposes. A majority of scientists regard animal cloning as a great invention with many benefits. However, animal cloning is contrary to nature and is not morally right. Therefore, animal cloning is morally incorrect as it possesses harmful effects to animals and the clones.

Cloning of animals is not morally okay because of the increased likelihood of medical accidents. There is no guaranteed result from cloning animals (Panno 66). A majority of cloned animals display various abnormalities that make treatment a daunting task. For example, sheep may give birth to cloned lambs that are in most cases huge. Furthermore, cloned animals have shown other abnormalities like edema and placental abnormalities that often lead to fetal deaths. MacKinnon (203) states that the somatic tissue used to derive the transferable nucleus significantly influences such anomalies. A majority of the live cloned animals have complicated health statuses. Healthy animals from cloning may unexpectedly develop health complications in later stages of their life. Moreover, cloned animals are naturally weaker than conventional animals (MacKinnon 204). Most cloned animals have a high probability of developing heart and liver failure, obesity and reduced growth rate. As a result, these complications increase the likelihood of premature death.

Bruce and Bruce (115) assert that unusual fetal development is a frequent occurrence in animal cloning, translating into irregular pregnancies for surrogate animals. Such pregnancies pose threats to both the surrogates and unborn clones. For example, Hydrops often occur during clone pregnancies. Hydrops refer to the situation where either or both the fetus and surrogate swell with fluid as if they may burst (Bruce and Bruce 116). Contrariwise, Hydrops are rare occurrences in normal pregnancies from natural breeding or AI (Artificial-Insemination). Such occurrences represent medical accidents arising from animal cloning that can be avoided altogether. Medical accidents expose animals to unnecessary health conditions that threaten their wellbeing and life. It is morally wrong to clone animals because of the consequences. Some of the effects of animal cloning include weak immune systems, deformities such as wrongly bent limbs and so forth. Approximately 37% of cloned calves are born with bloated umbilical cords that often necessitate surgery. These calves are at risk and majority become victims of fetal deaths (Bruce and Bruce 118).

According to Verma and Singh (301), animal cloning raises ethical issues because it may lead to the suffering of animals. Animals may experience severe pain and misery in the cloning process. Cloning may cause agony to animals in relation to health, the cloning routine, complications that the surrogate may face and cloning for exhibition or research. Consequently, animals may suffer from cloning if the process leads to health complications such as chronic diseases (Verma and Singh 302). On the other hand, Verma and Singh (302) acknowledge that animals are more likely to suffer from painful labor as a result of animal cloning than in normal pregnancies. Cloning may cause agony to animals regarding surgery. Case in point, the donor animal may undergo surgery to remove the necessary eggs, whereas the surrogate may be subjected to another surgical procedure to implant the eggs. Additionally, animals may be subjected to further surgery via C-section during birth as cloned fetuses usually have huge weight from the LOS (Large-Offspring-Syndrome) (Brunk 57). All these surgical procedures present additional pain and misery to animals.

Animal cloning for exhibition or research purposes may also lead to suffering for the animals, particularly if the process is applied to pathological studies (Bruce and Bruce 128). Moreover, using animals as research or exhibition tools equates them with just mere objects. Cloning objectifies animals and thus reduces their intrinsic value. Through cloning, animals fail to be treated as living and conscious objects. Bruce and Bruce (130) note that animal cloning takes objectification of animals to a different level, where the creatures face even more suffering. For instance, cloning may enable animals to be viewed as just disposable objects. People may become less sensitive to animals because of the ability to create cloned animals and, therefore, find it easy to them away like produced items (TVs). The society may see no difference between animals and other created items such as cars and phones.