Apparently clones of the same dead sheep from which Dolly was manufactured are in good health and aging normally. From the LiveScience story:
Four cloned sheep that are genetically identical to Dolly, the first cloned mammal, are still healthy even in old age, a new study found. The four sheep, which were derived from the same batch of cells as Dolly and could be considered her clone “sisters,” have just reached their 9th birthday, which is equivalent to age 70 in human years, researchers who have been studying the sheep said.
A detailed study of these four sheep and nine other cloned sheep that are not related to “the Dollies” found that the animals were healthy. All of the sheep were free from many diseases commonly found in older sheep, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, the study showed.
What does this mean for the future of human cloning?
- The cloning technique–known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)–can be refined so as to permit the manufacture of normal mammals in such a manner.
- Human SCNT has already been done, creating embryos that were developed to the blastocyst stage (the time when stem cells can be derived).
- SCNT is one type of cloning. The result is an embryo, that once in existence develops in the same manner as a natural embryo.
- At that point, the question isn’t whether to clone but what to do with the embryo that was created.
- Some human cloning apologists falsely say that “therapeutic cloning” is different than “reproductive cloning.” That’s not true.
- Those terms merely reflect different uses of the cloned embryo, the former being destroyed for research, the latter implanted in a uterus and–as with Dolly–brought to birth.
- Bioethicists and Big Biotech support have said that human “reproductive cloning” should be banned until it is “safe.”
- Animal cloning moves that process forward–making human reproductive uses of cloning safe.
- So does “therapeutic” human cloning since a major point of that work is to perfect the still faulty techniques needed to do in humans what is currently being done in sheep and other animals.
- The goals of human cloning include, but are not limited to, research, learning how to genetically engineer human beings, fetal farming for parts and research, and reproductive outcomes.
- Banning “reproductive cloning” is not banning cloning, but merely one use of a cloned embryo. In other words, it is a phony ban intended to fool people.
The time to outlaw human cloning is now–meaning all human SCNT, regardless of the use to which the embryo will be put. If we wait until the sector perfects its techniques, it will be too late.
Will we? Not a chance!
CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!
Hillary won’t. Trump hasn’t a clue or a care about the issue. The media are asleep and/or active boosters of Big Biotech and Congress is safely in their campaign donation-paid special interest pockets.
There will be consequences.
LifeNews.com Note: Wesley J. Smith, J.D., is a special consultant to the Center for Bioethics and Culture and a bioethics attorney who blogs at Human Exeptionalism.
