Cloning: a risk worth takingIn 1997, scientist Dr Ian Wilmut successfully cloned the very first animal, a sheep named Dolly. This opened the door to the endless possibilities of cloning. Although some are opposed to it, cloning technology has proven to be very useful and there is a need for further research as it could lead to the cure of diseases, creating replacement tissues and organs, and better quality of life. Cloning is the process of creating organisms with identical DNA. A clone is made up of the same genetic makeup as the original. Cloning can occur naturally in nature. An example would be identical twins that occur in humans. Twins form when a fertilized egg divides into two embryos with the same DNA. Scientists have now discovered ways to produce artificial clones using three different types of artificial cloning techniques, including genetic cloning, reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Gene cloning involves producing identical copies of DNA. Reproductive cloning produces a completely identical copy of another organism. In therapeutic cloning, human embryos are cloned to produce stem cells that could be used for research in experiments to create replacement tissues. Although these techniques involve cloning, they serve a different purpose (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2014). For example, reproductive cloning is primarily used to create clones of an entire animal. This is achieved by removing a mature somatic cell from the animal that one wishes to clone. The nucleus of a somatic cell is placed in an egg from which the nucleus has already been removed. While still in a test tube, the egg is stimulated until it becomes an embryo which can then be implanted into a female animal... middle of paper ... but is killed when the stem cells are removed. They raise the question: “Why must one’s life be taken to save another?” » In conclusion, cloning would offer many significant benefits that could be very important for our world. Reproductive cloning would allow us to maintain a reliable herd capable of producing high quality meat and reduce the use of chemicals in meat. Therapeutic cloning could lead to the development of replacement tissues and organs that could eliminate the shortage of patients awaiting transplants. Finally, gene cloning could be the answer to detecting diseases in DNA and creating specific treatments for them. Even though cloning raises questions about ethics, the role of God, and the type of life a clone lives, I believe cloning would be very beneficial in the future if properly monitored and continued to be studied..