CIM Briefing Papers

C.I.M. Outline #59
Author: Bill Crouse
                           Human Cloning

I.  Introduction

    A.  Background

          1. In February 1997 it was announced that a sheep had been cloned
             at the Roslin Institute in Scotland.  The ethical reverberations
             were heard around the world, not because it was a sheep, but
             because the possibility  loomed that a human would soon be
             cloned as well.

          2. One of the greatest scientific discoveries of the Twentieth
             Century, and indeed in the history of science,  was the
             discovery of the DNA code in 1953 by Thomas Watson and
             Francis Crick.  They discovered that genetic traits are encoded
             in the DNA molecule of each cell.  The subsequent biological
             revolution is now upon us.  One writer said:    "We've
             developed the tools to shape our own biological destiny,  but
             many question whether we've evolved the wisdom to play
             God."  (David Rorvik)  What this revolution does is
             invest scientists with the awesome powers of predestination.
             The ultimate dream of humanism has always been to have the
             ability to direct its own evolution.

    B.  Current Concerns

   When the cloning of the sheep was announced, President Clinton
   immediately chose a commission to study the  immense
   ramifications this technology might have for the human race.  To
   emphasize the seriousness of the situation, he ordered them to report
   to him in 90 days.  In this postmodern culture, which has no moral     
   anchor, the potential for abuse and the further degradation of human
   dignity eclipses our imagination.  The purpose of this briefing is to
   survey some of the implications of human cloning.  

   (As we were concluding this briefing paper, the above noted
   presidential commission released its preliminary report.  According
   to Associated Press, the commission is not recommending a ban on
   experimental procedures with regard to human cloning as long as the
   embryos are not implanted to grow to term!  Apparently the
   commission wants to leave the door open for human cloning in the
   future as an option for infertile couples.)
  
II.  The Purpose of Science

  Science itself is a tool for man's dominion spelled out in Genesis
  1:26ff.  As a tool, it is neutral;  it is neither good nor bad.  With it man
  can discover, understand, manipulate, rule, and use the resources of the
  earth to further the Kingdom of God.  However, when science as an
  establishment becomes the final authority it becomes scientism.  It
  assumes the role of god.

III.  Definition of  Cloning

  Cloning as a procedure is the artificial reproduction of an organism
  which is the exact genetic copy of a living organism.  It is a branch of
  genetic engineering.  It is an asexual form of reproduction.  Identical
  twins are natural clones as they are exact biological copies of each
  other.

IV.  The Mechanics of Cloning

  A.  There are approximately one-trillion cells in the normal human
      adult body.  In the nucleus of every one of these cells is recorded
      all the information (software) needed to construct an exact copy
      of an individual human.  The amount of this information is equal
      to several sets of the 30 volume Encyclopedia Britannica!  While
      this briefing paper will be stored on a hard disk in a binary code
      of 1's and 0's, the genetic information to make a new individual is
      recorded chemically in a quatenary code.  

  B.  The technique used by the scientist in Scotland to clone a sheep
      was to first remove the nucleus from a fertilized sheep egg then
      replacing it with the nucleus from a cell of an adult ewe's
      mammary gland.  The trick was to get the enucleated cell to
      accept the foreign nucleus and then divide into a developing
      sheep embryo.  What the scientists discovered was that very tiny
      pulses of electricity solved the problem.  One week later the
      embryo was implanted in the womb of a sheep.

V.  Possible Reasons for Cloning Humans
 
  A.  For Spare Parts

      Because of the modern technology of organ transplantation and
      our modern obsession with health, it is easy to assume that a
      powerful person with a terminal disease and the means could
      commission a scientist to make a contingent of young clones to
      have available for use as spare parts.

      B.  Vanity

     A wealthy, egotistical dictator wanting to create a dynasty, could
     clone himself.  When the ability to clone is possible, all that is
     necessary is a willing scientist and someone with the means to pay
     for the service.  This idea was the subject of a book, and later a
     movie.  See The Boys from Brazil by Ira Leven, or the movie by      
     the same name.

      C.  Biological  Immortality

     By cloning himself someone might imagine that his immortality
     might be guaranteed.   

      D.  Desired Types

     As speculated in the novel, Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
     envisioned cloning special classes of people for specific tasks, i.e.,
     laborers, rulers, etc.  Scientists speculate that through cloning and
     genetic engineering they can create a superior homo sapien, even a
     new species.  Controlling and directing the process of evolution is
     the goal.  In a spiritual sense they believe they can affect man's
     redemption on the natural level (i.e., eliminate his violent
     tendencies).   Some have proposed saving genetic material in a
     kind of genetic bank of famous writers, artists, athletes, etc. which
     would greatly enhance culture.  Some egotistical Nobel winners
     have already had their sperm frozen!

      E.  To Eliminate Genetic Disease

     There are more than 2500 known genetic diseases.   A married
     couple desiring to have children might discover after genetic
     counseling that they both have recessive genes for a serious genetic
     disease.  To spare themselves the pain of a defective offspring they
     then might decide to clone either of themselves.  

      F.  For Sex Selection

     Cloning would be another technique for the parents to select the
     desired sex of their child.

VI.  Major Ethical Concerns

  A. The meaning of a child is lost

     1. In the Christian worldview a child (Gen 3) is viewed as a gift not
           a product.  The temptation it seems,  is that a cloned-child would
           be viewed as a product of human ingenuity.

     2. God has ordained that human life should be sustained by
        procreation.   Children are gifts of God's grace and are to be
        conceived in the context of marital love.
                         
     3. The child is neither a replica of the father nor the mother.  He is
        an independent being with an entirely unique genetic
        inheritance.  This should remind us of each child's ultimate
        independence.  The child is literally an incarnation of their
        union.

        B. The Possible Corruption of the Gene Pool       

      Once there are multiple clones in a society there is potential for
      corruption of the gene pool because it would increase the number
      of defective genes.   Clones who reproduce could also have a
      high incidence of  abnormal births or even sterility, as has been
      witnessed in cloned animals in the laboratory.

        C. The Loss of Individual Identity and Human Dignity

      Individual identity is generally not a problem for identical twins,
      but what if the twin of a clone is the father or some famous
      personality.  Imagine a clone of a Nobel prize winner trying to
      live up to that reputation,  and having the knowledge that he was
      manufactured!  Maybe the best way to get this point home is to
      ask the question:  "Would you want to be a clone?"

      "Clonal reproduction introduces something totally new into the
      world  the mind of a child who knows it is a biological replica
      of its parent, a child who knows it is largely preordained, a freak
      who can see its biological future mirrored in another person." 
      The Biocrats, p. 97.

      "What is a clone, anyway, but a person forced against his will to
      duplicate a life already lived?  Doesn't cloning imply ownership
      by the parents which denies the child's freedom to develop his or
      her own nature."  Let Us Make Man, p. 124.

        D.  The Erosion of Personal Reproductive Freedom

      Once certain genotypes can be chosen and produced asexually
      how soon would it be before centralized-planning would subvert
      personal choice?  This question has already been debated by legal
      scholars.

        E.  The Personal Property Issue

      With the transplantation of body parts, asexual reproduction, and
      engineered desired genotypes, the legal question naturally arises: 
      Who owns your body?  If an all-star athlete is cloned will
      someone have to pay royalties to the athlete?  Will certain
      genotypes be patented?  These are questions that are on our
      horizon if cloning becomes legal and wide-spread.  (For further
      information on this subject see the book mentioned
      below: The body as Property.)

        F.  The Destruction of Life

      In 1952 scientists succeeded in cloning frogs.  In these frog
      clones only 11 grew normally out 707 attempts.  Most grew into
      grotesque shapes and forms and had to be destroyed.  Before the
      scientists in  Scotland were successful in cloning a sheep they
      also experienced many failures.   Out of 277 tries only 29
      embryos survived longer than six days.  Of these, all died but the
      one that grew to term.  We report this because of the ethical
      problem that might be encountered in failed attempts in future
      human cloning.  If human life begins with fertilization, then to
      destroy developing embryos is destroying human life.

        G.  The Loss of the Traditional Family

      The family is one of few institutions or relationships where a
      person is accepted unconditionally.  God designed the two-parent
      family, a mother and father for maximum emotional and
      psychological development.  The possibility of human cloning
      leaves the door open for the alternatives dreamed of by
      those who would destroy the traditional family.  Francis Crick
      said: 

          "[I]f we can get across to people the idea that their children
          are not entirely their own business and that it is not a
          private matter, it would be an enormous step forward." 
          Quoted in The Ethics of Genetic Control, by Joseph
          Fletcher, p. 182.

VII.  Theological Questions

   A.  Would a cloned human being have a soul?

      Since identical twins are clones of each other, it would seem
      certain that a clone would be a person created in God's image. 
      The clone would be a twin of its father (if a male clone) or its
      mother (if a female clone).

         B.  When is the soul imparted into a fetus?

      There has never been a consensus on this question throughout the
      history of the church.  Augustine said:   "...[T]here is nothing
      certain or decisive in the canonical Scriptures, respecting the
      origin of the soul."   There are two basic views:

      1.  The Traducian View: This view teaches that the immaterial
          part of man (the soul) is transferred from the first father,
          Adam.  In other words, the soul comes through human
          parents.  This view is held by most reformed theologians but
          not by all, including Calvin himself.

      2.  The Creationist View:   A newly created soul is implanted by
          God at the time of fertilization.  Others vary the time of
          implantation during the gestation period.   This view is held
          by most Catholics and by the Eastern Church.

         C.  The Sanctity of Life

      The sanctity of life is what it is because it is granted by a
      transcendent God.  Our value as human beings is not based on
      our IQ, athletic talents, scientific accomplishments, etc.  Modern
      non-christian worldveiws base human value on that which is
      arbitrary, which means that it can change depending on shifting
      values.   When any society concludes that some human life is
      more valuable than others than we are indeed on a slippery slope. 
      Eugenics did not die with the Nazi regime!

VIII.  Concluding Statement

   As we have learned from history, the splitting of the atom brought
   great good and the possibility for great evil.  The scenario is no less
   with the splitting of the nucleus of a human cell.
          
For Further Study:

Anderson, Bruce L.  Let us Make Man.
Anderson, J. Kerby.  Genetic Engineering.
Feinberg, John s. and Feinberg, Paul D.  Ethics for Brave New World.
(See Chapter Nine)
Jones, D. Gareth.  Brave New People.
Kimbrell, Andrew.  The Human Body Shop: The Engineering and Marketing of Life.
Lester, Lane P. and Hefley, James C.  Cloning: Miracle or Menace?
Pearcey, Nancy R. and Thaxton, Charles B.  The Soul of Science.  (See
especially Chapter 10 on the Bio-revolution).
Ramsey, Paul.  Fabricated Man.
Rosenfeld, Albert.  The Second Genesis: The Coming Control of Life.
Scott, Russell.  The Body as Property.
 
 
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