Reasons for Cloning Animals

Animal cloning is one of the newer areas of genetic research, as plant cloning and hybrid research has been around for a lot longer. Cloning animals has many potential uses, and some people believe it is a precursor to human cloning, which elicits mixed views among scientists and the general public. The highly controversial issue of science versus religion has probably contributed to cloning not being widely accepted.

  1. Reviving Endangered or Extinct Species

    • Saving endangered species that are either extinct or nearly extinct is a fascinating area of research, and technologies for accomplishing this are advancing quickly. The Tasmanian tiger, a recently extinct species, is currently part of cloning research to revive the species conducted by Andrew Pask and colleagues at the University of Melbourne, Australia. The reviving process is a multi-step process that includes obtaining DNA, rebuilding the animal's genome, DNA swapping, electric current zapping and implanting the fertilized embryo in a suitable surrogate for the incubation period.

    Cloning for Medical Purposes

    • The cloning of mice for medical research has been in practice for some time and provides researchers with multiple genetically identical animals for study. The cloning procedure involves genetically altering a mouse, which is then cloned for pharmaceutical and disease research. The cloning of stem cells in stem cell research has made recent advances and offers hope in the repair of diseased organs and tissues. This aspect of cloning has also attracted some controversy although it has offered major breakthroughs in medicine. Farm animals are cloned for the production of certain hormones and proteins used in research on medicines.

    Reproducing Your Old Pet From Its DNA

    • There is a company in the United States that offers cat cloning to pet owners who, rather than get another cat, would prefer to have a replica of their old cat. This may seem ludicrous to some people, but companion animals are integrated into society and keep many elderly people living happily. Reproducing a trained guide dog may also soon be available and may cut down on training time needed. Cloned pets are believed to be more attached to their owners, and there may be an increase in popularity of pet cloning as it becomes more affordable.

    Practice for Cloning Humans

    • The further scientists advance in cloning and genetic research, the closer they will be to being able to clone human beings. Already human organs can be grown in farm animals in lab conditions, and this area of study is advancing every year. Although the cloning of human organs is quite different from cloning a complete person, there are mixed opinions regarding this issue, which will continue to be a subject of debate.