To Clone or Not To Clone
By Merle F. Marks, DVM
Cloning is a very interesting and very controversial subject.
I amnot sure it can be discussed without religious references, nor will
I try. My personal feelings cover different areas; some gray,
someblack and white. Let us start with a basic understanding of cloningand
go from there.
Cloning is taking genetic material (DNA) from one animal or person and
incorporating it into an egg which has had its DNA removed. This
egg now dividesand creates a "perfect" copy of the animal or person which
supplied the DNA. This is similar
to the dinosaur creation in "Jurassic Park". Recently a cat was
inthe news as being cloned, although its cloned kitten differed in
appearance. Of course we all know about Dolly the sheep being
the first animal to be cloned. Dolly, although not being very old
is developing joint problems.
There currently is research into a certain genetically engineered pig
which could be cloned over and over and those cloned pigs could serve as
heartdonors for people needing heart transplants. Very interesting
especiallyfor all those people desperately
waiting and needing transplants. This could be a revolutionary
moment in medicine. A real positive use of a controversial
procedure. I know if one of my children needed a transplant,
I would consider any and all options. However, there are less than
beneficial uses too.
I received a call a couple weeks ago from a person I'd never met who
wanted to know if we do tissue harvesting for cloning. It seems her
cat had been dead for a week and she was intent on having the cat cloned.
It had been kept cool not frozen for the last week. No offense to
this person as I'm sure they miss their cat, but what's wrong with this
picture? Alot!! I know this is personal opinion but here goes.
First,our pets are gifts that come into our lives to be loved, enjoyed
and eventually remembered. Gifts come with no strings attached--no
promise of longevity, no guarantee of a long life. Our pets are like
the family and friends in our life--you only go around once...let those
people know every day what they mean to you and live each day to its fullest.
Hoping to have a pet cloned is to greatly minimize the special gift God
gives us...uniqueness. All the pets I've had in my life that are
gone have a special place in my memories and my heart. However, I
wouldn't want them all over again.
Life is not like a scene from "Groundhog Day." The creation of
life carries responsibilities which mankind is unable to handle.
We have enough trouble taking care of the pets and people that are already
here. My advice to anyone who wants their pet cloned is this...enjoy
them while they are here...remember them well when they are gone...go to
the HumaneSociety if you want another pet...and leave creating life to
God.
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7bit Content-Disposition: inline; filename="Cloning.html" Pet Care Corner
Merle F. Marks, DVM
Timberland Animal Clinic
To Clone or Not To Clone
Cloning is a very interesting and very controversial subject.
I amnot sure it can be discussed without religious references, nor will
I try. My personal feelings cover different areas; some gray,
someblack and white. Let us start with a basic understanding of cloningand
go from there.
Cloning is taking genetic material (DNA) from one animal or person and
incorporating it into an egg which has had its DNA removed. This
egg now dividesand creates a "perfect" copy of the animal or person which
supplied the DNA. This is similar
to the dinosaur creation in "Jurassic Park". Recently a cat was
inthe news as being cloned, although its cloned kitten differed in
appearance. Of course we all know about Dolly the sheep being
the first animal to be cloned. Dolly, although not being very old
is developing joint problems.
There currently is research into a certain genetically engineered pig
which could be cloned over and over and those cloned pigs could serve as
heartdonors for people needing heart transplants. Very interesting
especiallyfor all those people desperately
waiting and needing transplants. This could be a revolutionary
moment in medicine. A real positive use of a controversial
procedure. I know if one of my children needed a transplant,
I would consider any and all options. However, there are less than
beneficial uses too.
I received a call a couple weeks ago from a person I'd never met who
wanted to know if we do tissue harvesting for cloning. It seems her
cat had been dead for a week and she was intent on having the cat cloned.
It had been kept cool not frozen for the last week. No offense to
this person as I'm sure they miss their cat, but what's wrong with this
picture? Alot!! I know this is personal opinion but here goes.
First,our pets are gifts that come into our lives to be loved, enjoyed
and eventually remembered. Gifts come with no strings attached--no
promise of longevity, no guarantee of a long life. Our pets are like
the family and friends in our life--you only go around once...let those
people know every day what they mean to you and live each day to its fullest.
Hoping to have a pet cloned is to greatly minimize the special gift God
gives us...uniqueness. All the pets I've had in my life that are
gone have a special place in my memories and my heart. However, I
wouldn't want them all over again.
Life is not like a scene from "Groundhog Day." The creation of
life carries responsibilities which mankind is unable to handle.
We have enough trouble taking care of the pets and people that are already
here. My advice to anyone who wants their pet cloned is this...enjoy
them while they are here...remember them well when they are gone...go to
the HumaneSociety if you want another pet...and leave creating life to
God.
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