1st LEADER AGAINST

1st LEADER AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE CLONING

- As we know, reproductive cloning is a process which involves the creation of a new individual genetically equal to other.

- We don't agree with this process, we don't agree with the creation a new "human being" genetically equal to other. And I, as a member of the group against reproductive cloning, will justify our position by talking about three main arguments: the medical risks, the loss of the sense of uniqueness of an individual and the impact on society.

1^st:

- Reproductive cloning involves many medical/healthy risks. To talk about this argument I would like to refer Dolly, the sheep.

- Does anyone know how many attempts were taken to clone Dolly? It took 277 attempts to clone Dolly. "Ok but it was the first time we had a cloning experience...” But reproductive cloning is not so advanced to diminish this number nowadays.

- There is another question as to why Dolly did not live as long as a typical sheep of her species...? Why??... Maybe the ones who agree with reproductive cloning can answer.

- According to a study, 98% of cloning efforts end in failure, and the 2% of the clones which could survive would probably suffer from genetic abnormalities, heart diseases, lung problems, malfunction of immune systems, etc. etc. etc. So why try to clone a human? There are so many people in the world suffering from those diseases so why create more?

2^nd:

- Reproductive cloning would diminish the sense of uniqueness of an individual. Our looks, our fingerprints, even our immune system are sources of freedom and independence. This is not directly related to the medical risks, this is about our feelings, which have also a big importance for us.

3^rd:

- Finally, it's important to say that reproductive cloning would have a big impact on society: one of the tasks of the society is the management of its relation to the future and the transmission of its ideals to the next generation and reproductive cloning would provoke a shock between generations. The junction of the generations is crucial for the future and that’s here in this point that reproductive cloning enter and ‘disturb’.

- Clones are human beings but a kind of human beings different from us. Even if we don’t see, there are differences and we are not prepared for such differences.

- If reproductive cloning goes ahead, our life will be like a game, something like “clones vs. human beings”, two separated positions, two separated species. We have to see that it is incompatible to have clones and human beings living in the same society. (I’m doing this distinction between clones and human beings JUST to be easier to understand what we are trying to transmit you.

- Another thing also related to the impact of reproductive cloning on society is the fact that if someone commit a crime for example... it would be more difficult to find the guilty “was it the human or his/her clone?”. This is a fact, and we have to think about it.

That is all for now. Thank you very much.

Raquel
(and Sílvia)