Cloning and Stem Cell Research

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Cloning and Stem Cell Research Fishbowl
Discussion 2 Hilvert Mods. 7-9 Eunice,
Sharanya, John, Luke, Alex, and
Alex Vocabulary IVF (in-vitro fertilization)
a method of assisted reproduction in which the
man's sperm and the woman's egg (oocyte) are
combined in a laboratory dish, where
fertilization occurs. The resulting embryo is
then transferred to the uterus to develop
naturally. Usually, two to four embryos are
transferred with each cycle.  Cloning A DNA
sequence, such as a gene, that is transferred
from one organism to another and replicated by
genetic engineering techniques. Adult stem
cell cells extracted from blastocysts that have
not developed to their specific functions and can
used to cure diseases and other medical ailments.
Embryo An organism in its early stages of
development, especially before it has reached a
distinctively recognizable form. Blastocyst
tiny 8-day old cell mass no larger than the
period at the end of a sentence. Therapeutic
cloning uses genetic material from patients
own cells to generate cells to treat certain
medical conditions and repair damaged cells.
Reproductive cloning aims to implant a cloned
embryo into a womans uterus leading to the birth
of a cloned baby. Abortion Termination of
pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a
fetus that is incapable of survival.
Parthenogenesis process in which an
unfertilized egg develops into a new individual.
It is human conception without fertilization by a
man. Pluripotentiality ability of cells to
develop into many different types. Article
Categories Science The Fatal Promise of
Cloning The First Human Cloned Embryo An
Immortal Cell Brief Summary Law Cloning and
the Law Why Pro-Lifers Are Missing the Point If
You Believe Embryos Are Humans, Patents Are
Universitys Gold Mine A Hard Life At The Bench
Bushs Decision Will Set Course Of US
Research Brief Summary Society Baby, Its
You Investors Show Me The Stem-Cell Money Brief
Summary Morality Cloning Humans Is Ethical
Cloning Humans Is Not Ethical Playing Doctor- or
Playing God Stem Cell s And Historys Slippery
Slopes Not Taken Brief Summary
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Discussion Questions 1-Should there be a
difference between morals and legalities
concerning cloning? 2-Do you agree with Pence
that there are superior babies? Why or why not?
(p. 17) 3-Do you think that there is a
difference between birth control pills, Viagra,
and cloning in regards to affecting natural
reproduction processes? 4-If reproductive
cloning was allowed, what boundaries should be
placed to ensure the safety of the clone?
5-Would therapeutic cloning inevitably lead
down a slippery slope to reproductive cloning
or other controversial issues? (p.13) 6-Would
you support your tax dollars to go towards
cloning research? 7-After the success of
Dolly, many scientists became more hopeful for
the possibility of human cloning. Can cloning be
paralleled to cancer research in regards with
first testing on animals and then moving onto
human experimentation? 8-The case of Sarah
and Abe Shapiro raises the possibility of cloning
a deceased person. Discuss. 9-The article
Playing doctor or playing God? raises the issue
whether human life can be bought and sold as a
commodity. Is such in the domain of human
authority as opposed to that of a higher
power? 10-Does cloning devalue the cloned and
the resulting child in terms of their status as
human? 11-By reading the articles, have your
views on the different types of cloning changed
in any way?