Re: what are the advantages of human cloning

For researchers, it isn't so much the human cloning aspect that is at 
issue.  The techniques that can potentially produce a human clone are 
techniques that can be used for other research purposes.  In fact, in 
vitro fertilization uses the same kind of techniques as any "cloning" 
experiment.  The central issue of the debate are the cells -- stem cells.  
Stem cells are pluripotent -- meaning that they can, under the right 
conditions, be any type of cell: muscles, nerve, skin etc.  Researchers 
want to be able to use these cells to figure out things like "what makes a 
muscles cell a muscle cell and not a skin cell" , "can these stem cells be 
used to replace or supplement damaged tissue"  etc.  Because stem cells 
are pluripotent, they can potentially be used to "grow" a human being, who 
would be genetically identical to the stem cell donor.  Humans however are 
influenced by their environment and human clones would not be any more 
similar or dissimilar than identical twins.  Human clones would probably 
be a lot less similar than identical twins since they are less likely to 
have the same environmental influences.  So for researchers, it's 
not "human cloning" that is being supported, it's more that research with 
stem cells be allowed to continue.  You should know that despite the fact 
that successful cloning attempts in other mammals are reported almost on a 
weekly basis, cloning is NOT an easy procedure.  You only hear about the 
successful attempts and not about the many unsuccessful ones.  Cloning can 
potentially help preserve endangered species, grow "spare" organs, or help 
the infertile have children.  However, the risk involved may not be worth 
the gain.

Shirley Chan, Ph.D.