Book Description
Discussions and debates over the medical use of stem cells and cloning have always had a religious component. But there are many different religious voices. This anthology on how religious perspectives can inform the difficult issues of stem cell research and human cloning is essential to the discussion. Contributors reflect the spectrum of Christian responses, from liberal Protestant to evangelical to Roman Catholic. The noted moral philosopher, Laurie Zoloth, offers a Jewish approach to cloning, and Sondra Wheeler contributes her perspective on both Jewish and Christian understandings of embryonic stem cell research.
In addition to the discussions found here, GOD AND THE EMBRYO includes a series of official statements on stem cell research and cloning from religious bodies, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church in America, the United Methodist Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the Rabbinical Council of America. "Human Cloning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry," from the statement of the President's Council on Bioethics, concludes the book.
The debates and the discussions will continue, but for anyone interested in the nuances of and religious perspectives that make their important contributions to these ethically challenging and important dialectics, GOD AND THE EMBRYO is an invaluable resource.
Customer Reviews:
Very complete.......2005-12-09
The book is a series of articles from religious scholars about the subjects of cloning and stem cell research. It is not a book about attacking these subjects, which was a treat for me. Some of the scholars are long winded, and I avoided those articles. If you are doing a research paper on this subject this is a perfect book to have to learn the various religious points of view of the major faiths.
Medley of perspectives.......2005-07-29
This book had its genesis in a 2001 seminar called "The Ethics of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, " but includes follow-up essays dealing with later developments. It tries to catch a fast moving ball on the hop. The pivotal point in this book is the moral status of the embryo up to 14 days by which time the individuality of the embryo has become clear beyond all doubt. Up to that point identical twins or triplets can spring from one embryo, and two embryos can merge to develop into one. Different conclusions emerge depending on whether one places the emphasis on potential or on individuality. On the one hand, the early embryo is potentially a fully developed human being, whether identical twinning takes place afterwards or not. Must we not, therefore, refuse the option of using an embryo as a disposable object of manipulation, no matter how good the intention? On the other hand, if the embryo is capable of becoming two embryos, individuality has not yet appeared. Can one then argue from personhood? If not, is it wrong to generate embryos in vitro and to destroy them at this early stage with the intention of developing new cures?
A new dimension adding intensity to the debate is the recent discovery of the possibility of therapeutic cloning which is a combination of the processes of cloning and stem-cell technology: a cell from the body of the patient is transformed into the (moral?) equivalent of a fertilized egg; this egg divides to the point where stem cells can be harvested; these can be transformed into specialized cells potentially suitable for repairing organs. Therapeutic cloning necessarily means the creation and subsequent destruction of embryos. The question of their moral status is critical to any ethical consideration.
All of the contributors to this book would agree with the Pontifical Academy of Life statement of August 2000: the living embryo from the moment of the union of the gametes ... cannot be considered as `a simple mass of cells.' All agree that this special conjunction of cells is worthy of respect, but to what degree? Most would not accept as absolute the Academy's argument from identity and individuality: that before 14 days the embryo is `a human subject with a well defined identity, which from that point [of conception] begins its own coordinated, continuous and gradual development ... From this it follows that as a "human individual" it has the right to its own life.'
One paper argues that the context of the genesis of the embryo (in utero or in vitro), including the intention, affects the status society gives the embryo. For another contributor, to create and destroy an embryo for the purpose of establishing a new stem-cell line is morally wrong, but, using the principle of `nothing is lost,' the use of excess embryos as a by-product of in vitro fertilization could be justified. Considering the status of the early embryo as uncertain, another contributor balances possible malfeasance against the `beneficence,' of possible cures, and chooses for the latter, given that God's desire is for healing and health. Another position favours the safer approach with a chapter entitled: "To be willing to kill what for all one knows is a person is to be willing to kill a person." A broader justice perspective suggests embryonic stem-cell research should be limited to non-human embryos, and that we should concentrate on the development of cures for other diseases that affect a greater number of people around the world.
Some lacunae in this book might deprive the reader of a broader, and therefore more accurate, picture. The route of adult stem cells research, though mentioned in passing, is not sufficiently explored as a way of bypassing the moral dilemmas associated with embryonic stem-cell research. Given such an available route, plus the availability of non-human embryonic experimentation, the moral arguments for therapeutic cloning given in the book might be less convincing. Also not treated adequately, though mentioned in passing, are the inevitable major problems associated with introducing specialized cells derived from stem cells into the organs of patients; this process will involve experimentation on children and adults and is fraught with major ethical problems. Missing also is a moral consideration of the economic motive for therapeutic cloning with its accompanying ethically dubious public relations strategies. Finally, the symbolic/cultural aspects could be further developed, though Cole-Turner's insightful opening chapter, "Religion meets Research" does allude to culture; even the thought of the possibility of cloning changes our shared perception of what it is to be human with consequences for how we relate to each other.
This book does not fail in its intention, namely to inform the reader of a wide range of opinions, and to offer an imaginative reflection on the role of religious tradition in this debate. Church leaders, conscientious scientists, and public policy makers would do well to read this book if they wish to move from the present political stalemate that has mostly resulted by default in an unregulated free for all in such an important field.
Conall O'Cuinn SJ
Manresa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality
Ethics In the Face of Uncertainties.......2004-10-11
This book is a well done collection of essays on the controversial subject of stem cells and cloning from various religious perspectives.
While all were fascinating to read, several caught my attention.
Especially Fitzgerald's, the main subject of his essay being the title chosen for this review. He makes the salient point that there are pervading issues of uncertainty on this controversial issue of stem cell research, especially in the two areas that some would make it seem it's a slam dunk: scientific and medical. What is not told enough to the general public about this issue is that there are equally if not more promising technologies out there to benefit disease and suffering than stem cell. Further, he shows how some of the previous track record of science in promising huge societal returns if society will only let science take the ethical risks have not only not fulfilled their beneficial promises, but have brought about tragic and troubling ethical/medical results. He further intimates that the results of some already stem cell research has brought more opening of "ethical can of worms" than it has solved. These need to be thought out, and he argues convincingly that science needs to provide more justification for such contentious reserach before gaining go ahead approval. Just playing the old "religion vs. science" card doesn't fit here, nor should it be played.
Many other essayists bring out what is not really being discussed enough: source of stem cells. In vitro has allowed a supposed research population, with too much assumption about "eggs ready for research". Possibly this is area that society has a whole has been too uninformed and needs to reconsider. The supposed right to have a child at any cost mentality and ethic that has spurned such an industry and frozen embryo population has brought about this bioethic dillemma,now seeping into stem cell and cloning. James Peterson gives an insightful essay into this source issue.
The highly fluid discussion of any moral status the embryo might have is engaged uniquely by Brent Waters. He suggests we turn to a most useful concept is our judging of this" our neighbor.
Since this issue is in the news and the 2004 Presidential election, citizens interested in various religious views will be served well with this work. It includes some major religious confessional bodies' statement as well as the President's Council of Bioethics statement as well appendixed.
Book Description
A brave, moral argument for cloning and its power to fight disease.
A timely investigation into the ethics, history, and potential of human cloning from Professor Ian Wilmut, who shocked scientists, ethicists, and the public in 1997 when his team unveiled Dolly—that very special sheep who was cloned from a mammary cell. With award-winning science journalist Roger Highfield, Wilmut explains how Dolly launched a medical revolution in which cloning is now used to make stem cells that promise effective treatments for many major illnesses. Dolly's birth also unleashed an avalanche of speculation about the eventuality of cloning babies, which Wilmut strongly opposes. However, he does believe that scientists should one day be allowed to combine the cloning of human embryos with genetic modification to free families from serious hereditary disease. In effect, he is proposing the creation of genetically altered humans. 20 illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Human Cloning - Not The Issue.......2006-11-04
Ian Wilmut - with the help of science journalist Roger Highfield - tells the exciting story of how he and his group cloned Dolly, whose donor cell came from the udder of an adult sheep. Much of the book describes the science surrounding the multistage procedures of cloning. The challenges are enormous because of the immense complexity of the reproductive process and for technical reasons. The nuclear transfers themselves were done under a microscope on cells much smaller than the dot at the end of this sentence.
Cloning has been successful in many species of mammals but according to Wilmut, attempts to clone humans are not ethical, feasible, or even desirable. The success rate is extremely low, abnormalities of pregnancy are the norm, the newborn mammals that survive are frequently not entirely normal, and identical genotypes ignore the environmental factors that influence individuality. This can be tolerated in cattle, but certainly not in humans. Using stem cells to cure disease is an entirely different story. Scientists are learning how to manipulate these cells to become replacements for diseased tissue in humans.
In 50 years, scientists may be using stem cells to cure Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Diabetes, heart disease, and perhaps scores of other diseases. They might learn how to grow customized organs in the lab, rendering transplant waiting lists and immune suppressive therapy unnecessary. In 10 years, they should have somewhat of a handle on a few of these diseases and stem cell treatments or cures for a couple of them. Unfortunately, this valuable research has been slowed by political and ethical controversy.
Wilmut takes a respectful and humble view of these valid ethical issues and the religious objections surrounding experimentation on a human embryo. His bottom line, however, is that the real immoral act would be to withhold definitive treatment of disease from that group of us who are already born.
"After Dolly" is written for a wide variety of readers, requiring knowledge of high school biology and a little genetics. Wilmut modestly gives away virtually all the credit to his team and other researchers, while thoroughly examining the science and history of this dynamic field. Amid the hysteria and media frenzy surrounding Dolly's birth and life, and the tons of newsprint generated about the possibility of cloning humans, Wilmut was perplexed by the lack of details written about how and why they cloned her. He is now excited to finally tell this story.
The View of Cloning, from a Cloner.......2006-09-06
The most famous sheep in the world, and the most famous lab animal, was Dolly, born in 1996. She was the first mammal cloned from an adult differentiated cell, but she was not at all the first clone. Ian Wilmut was a scientist within the Scottish research team that cloned her, and ten years on he has written a useful book, with science author Roger Highfield, _After Dolly: The Uses and Misuses of Human Cloning_ (Norton) which not only gives the history of producing Dolly, and Dolly's life story, but also describes the developments in cloning since then. Wilmut has necessarily become an advisor on the ethics of cloning and embryo research, and while there will be many who disagree with his utilitarian views set down in his book, they do represent a thoughtful scientific opinion of where cloning and embryo procedures ought and ought not to be used.
Wilmut makes clear that Dolly was not the first clone, but the first mammalian clone produced from DNA derived from a differentiated adult cell; he gives a history of pre-Dolly cloning. While the ideas behind cloning are simple, carrying out the procedure is extremely difficult, requiring precise manipulation of unimaginably small cell parts. The manipulation machine, for instance, by which a technician looks into a microscope and carefully removes or replaces cell nuclei, sat on a desk that sat on a heavy metal plate that in turn sat on squash balls to absorb any vibrations from a door slamming or even a radio playing. Wilmut favors human embryo research because of its potential outcomes. The earliest embryo (even sometimes called a pre-embryo) is a blastocyst, a microscopic ball of around a hundred cells in a hollow sphere. There is not enough differentiation within the blastocyst into even primitive nerves, and so we may definitely say that the blastocyst has no awareness and no capacity to feel pain. Wilmut for this, and many other reasons given here, feels that there is no possibility of cruelty to a blastocyst, and that they can be subjected to experiment. He does feel that embryos deserve elemental respect; they should be used in research when there is no other means of doing the research, and any embryo thus used should be used with the consent of the adults whose DNA was joined to make it.
Wilmut is firmly against what he sees as the folly of cloning humans, and that the production of "designer babies" even if feasible (they are not even close) ought to be rejected. Again, this is a judgement based on practicality: he asks us to imagine rich parents who hire a staff to engineer an intellectually gifted child, only to wind up eventually with "a sullen adolescent who smokes marijuana and doesn't talk to them." Also he points out that cloning has huge risks and costs in making a clone; for Dolly, for instance, 277 donor udder cells were transformed into only 29 embryos, only one of which prospered in the surrogate mother. And no one really knows how good a clone Dolly was; she had a good life and seemed to enjoy being sociable due to her fame, but she lived less than eight years, not a good outcome for a pampered sheep. Dolly was a remarkable experiment that helped us better understand the biochemical mechanics of reproduction; Wilmut is strongly against any such experimentation on humans. His book gives up-to-date reporting on where scientists are and are heading, including the catastrophic mistakes by the once admired, now disgraced Woo Suk Hwang of Korea. Wilmut's passionate arguments about using the current technologies sensibly and ethically to benefit future generations ought to help in understanding the ethics of the most controversial area in biology.
A pick for both general-interest collections and any who would understand the nature of human cloning issues today.......2006-08-17
Ten years ago author Ian Wilmut shocked science and the general public when he revealed his team of researchers had cloned the first sheep from an adult cell. His revelation was to spark a controversy not just in science, but among consumers and the general public. AFTER DOLLY: THE USES AND MISUSES OF HUMAN CLONING continues the discussion, surveying the current state of the field of cloning, discussing the science behind Dolly's creation and its refinement since, and posing a strong statement on the moral necessity of cloning to cure disease. A pick for both general-interest collections and any who would understand the nature of human cloning issues today.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Superb.......2006-07-06
Ten years ago today, on July 5, 1996, the famous sheep called Dolly was born. There were no press announcements, for her "creators" had yet to submit the paper on the experimental methods and results to a professional scientific journal. It was not until February of the following year that most of press and the world got to hear of this extraordinary accomplishment with mammalian cloning. There is probably no single scientific experiment that has caused such controversy as this one, with most of this controversy coming from a misguided and publicity seeking press.
The authors present in this book an overview of the experiment from standpoint of Ian Wilmut, as one who was directly involved in bringing about the birth of Dolly. Written with the assistance of a professional writer, Wilmut gives the reader a fascinating look into the science behind Dolly, and also make commentary on the biological and genetic science that came after her birth. All of these developments are very exciting, and are ample proof that we are living in extraordinary times. Genetic engineering is a fascinating technology, and hopefully it will continue to play a large role in optimizing the health of all organisms, human and otherwise.
As expected from his public discussion, Wilmut is against reproductive cloning. However, his warnings against its practice he backs up with scientific argument, detailing the many problems that arise in attempts to clone mammals. The authors do touch on the ethical arguments against human cloning, but their arguments on this account are faulty, and have been successfully countered by other individuals, and will not be repeated here.
Wilmut comes across in the book as being a very practical, patient, and humble man, and one who is definitely fed up with the public outcries and misrepresentations of biological science in today's newspapers and magazines. The reader is left with the impression that Wilmut felt honored to be involved in the Dolly experiment, and even might have been slightly surprised at its success, comparing for instance his laboratories with other more equipped laboratories across the ocean.
Cloning from adults at the time was "proved" to be "impossible" by some molecular biologists of the time, as the authors point out. One can only imagine then the excitement when Wilmut and his team verified through ultrasound that the Dolly fetus was healthy. And their determination to proceed with the experiment, in spite of the "impossibility" proofs, is another strong argument for ignoring the opinions of experts when doing scientific research. Frequently the experts are correct, but their words are not sacrosanct, as laboratory experimentation in this case proved all too well. One hates to think of the research that has not been done because of discouragement from "experts."
Since the book is about genetic engineering as it progressed after the birth of Dolly, one expects to find discussion on transgenesis and pharming, and this is indeed the case. The authors give an encapsulated but effective overview of the developments in genetic engineering primarily from the viewpoint on how they will affect human health.
The authors are optimistic about the future of genetic engineering, but are hesitant to engage in utopianism. They want to leave the impression that genetic engineering will have a minimal impact as compared with what has been done via natural evolution. But as the technologies of genetic engineering become more perfected, and as mammalian cloning becomes better understood, it is fair to say that genetic engineering will have a major impact in the twenty-first century. If it enhances human intelligence and health, if it makes couples happy with children born through human cloning, if it creates thousands of new transgenic animals and plants, in short if it radically changes the biosphere as we know it in a way that makes life on Earth more harmonious, then Wilmut and his team, along with all the other genetic engineers, deserve not only our utmost respect and praise, but also our envy: for taking the first steps into a fascinating new frontier.
Amazon.com
Human beings have always hungered for immortality. But even in myths, those who find the secrets of eternal life often have to pay a high price. Michael West, CEO of Advanced Cell Technology, has spent most of his career as a biotechnologist seeking ways to make mammalian cells live forever. His successes put him at the center of political, moral, and religious firestorms. In The Immortal Cell, West offers not only a chronology of the emerging science of immortality, but a personal journal of his own path from strict creationist to ardent scientist seeking to shape human evolution. It was West and his cohorts who announced in 2001 that by inserting a person's own DNA into an unfertilized egg cell from a woman of reproductive age, they could create embryonic stem cells--cells that might be able to repair any number of problems for the DNA donor, including burns, cancer, degenerative disorders, and even normal aging. Accused of "playing God," West became one of the central figures in the debates on human cloning and was compared to Osama bin Laden by one histrionic news agent. In The Immortal Cell, West describes both the research and the furor that followed. Though the biology is a little tough for general readers, West does a fine job of using diagrams and step-by-step descriptions to explain his processes of cell culture and manipulation. The debate over therapeutic cloning of human cells is far from over, and readers seeking to better understand the debate will find West's book an unapologetic, one-sided argument in favor of human stem cell research. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
The extraordinary story of the breakthrough discoveries in cell aging, stem cell research, and therapeutic cloning, and the tremendous promise they hold for dramatically extending human life.
Dr. Michael West has been consumed with the mystery of science since he was as an inquisitive child mixing chemicals in his attic-turned-laboratory. Today, he stands in the center of a controversy so great that the list of those lining up against him includes President George W. Bush.
Once a devoted creationist eager to dispel theories of human evolution, Dr. West was set on a quest to find a scientific solution to the devastating effects of disease and death after the death of his father. He became immersed in the study of cell aging and the discovery of the cellular “clock” telomerase – the mechanism that controls cell aging. His work led him to found the biotechnology company Geron, a pioneer in the field of stem cell research. His new company, Advanced Cell Technology, is the only organization in the United States pursuing human therapeutic cloning research – research in the field of “regenerative medicine” intended to repair damaged and diseased human organs and tissues.
Unlike reproductive cloning, the attempt to clone a human child, therapeutic cloning is a process of growing cells, using a patient’s own DNA that is inserted it into an unfertilized egg cell to create embryonic stem cells, cells that hold the promise of repairing the damage of age and disease – in essence, making the cell young again. The potential for therapeutic cloning to treat afflictions caused by the loss of dysfunction of cells – from spinal cord injury and skin burns to kidney failures and cancer – is enormous.
Part memoir, part adventure story, The Immortal Cell chronicles the breakthroughs Dr. West and other scientists have made in biotechnology over the past decade – and the astonishing potential they offer us to cure diseases and improve the quality of human life.
Customer Reviews:
Refreshing tale of a driven scientist........2006-07-23
This amazing book reads like a Michael Crichton novel; full of suspense, moral predicaments, and uncertainies, with the added bonus of it being a true story. The author truly captures the intensity of being on the cutting edge of controversial science; give this to your kid and they will give up on 'cops and robbers' and want to be a scientist when they grow up. Read it yourself, and you will gain new insight into the controversy. Highly recommended.
more self promotion than the discussion of the subject matter.......2005-10-21
After reading so many positive reviews, I ordered the book, and expected to learn in-depth insight into the immortality of cells.
I was disappointed. This book is more of the author's personal story of pursuing the goal of revering aging rather than detailed look into the biological nature of aging. There are tidbits of gems here and there, but the density is low. If you are looking for amserious discussion of the subject matter, this book is not for you.
Nothing too special.......2005-06-18
This book is a narrative account of the author's attempts over the years to study aging. There was a lot of discussion about stem cells. I was hoping for more commentary on immortality, but he talked a lot about therapeutic uses of stem cells instead. The talk of immortality was mostly restricted to getting individual cells to reproduce indefinitely, rather than finding the fountain of youth. There were characters here and there who were introduced and faded away, but by and large the focus was on the author's character.
If you're looking for a dreamy, fountain of youth type of book, this is not really it. That is what I was looking for, so I was disappointed to see it was merely a recounting of events without a whole lot of future vision or insights. I think there are other books on immortality out there you may want to try.
A good and easy read which opens perspectives.......2005-02-15
In The Immortal Cell, Michael D. West tells about his lifelong search for solutions to aging and age-related illnesses.
West's quest starts with an ideal of compassion: if we can help it, why should we keep suffering from Alzheimer, Parkinson, macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, and so many illnesses associated with aging?
West first thought religion and the bible would provide him with answers to his questions about life and death. One is surprised that a bright young man with a scientific mind would have fallen for creationism for as long a period of time as ten years, but West finally recognized that creationism does not resist serious analysis and that at the end of the 20th century, it is just nonsense. Because of this however West has kept a certain understanding for the point of view of the more conservative religious parties.
West then tells of the scientific quest, amidst fierce competition between scientists and even corporations, to understand the mechanics of cellular aging: the discovery of the importance of telomeres, those chromosome ends that turn out to be associated with the cellular clock; the discovery of telomerase, the enzyme able to repair telomeres; the discovery of the tight relationship of such research with cancer research; the first experiments to rewind the cellular clock by implanting somatic cells DNA into egg cells; the cloning of the first mammals; and the experiments to produce embryonic stem sells in vitro, from somatic DNA and egg cells.
The most important result is the proof that cellular aging is not a fatality, as one could have thought initially: it is caused by a mechanism that we are now able to somewhat tweak. From there, there are two main therapeutic perspectives. First, the idea of fixing the aging cells of the body. A lot of research remains to be done in this area. So far, nobody has managed to find a mechanism to reliably deliver a fix to a significant number of cells, and the fix itself has yet to be developed. Second, the idea that any somatic cell can be used to produce embryonic stem cells. This opens the door to building tissues and even entire organs in vitro. Such tissues and organs could be then grafted to the donor without risk of rejection. The perspectives go from implanting skin and bone marrow cells to finding a cure for diabetes and atheroscleriosis. Ultimately, it may allow for entire organ replacement.
West is probably a better scientist than philosopher, but in the last chapter of the book, he makes a good case for therapeutic cloning, including addressing some religious questions regarding "life" with very sound arguments.
The Immortal Cell is a good and easy read. I had fairly high expectations about it because it was very well rated online, and I was a little disappointed by several aspects of the book. West could have communicated even better the excitement this research should generate. He neglects related developments such as the impact nanotechnology research could have.
He also fails to address exciting but disruptive perspectives. If in fact cellular therapy becomes one day mainstream, there is a clear possibility that humans could see their life expectancy increase dramatically, from about 80 years today in developed countries to... 100? 120? 150? 200? 1000? The social impact of such a change would be enormous. It is quite possible that West does not wish to speculate about such subjects so as not to disrupt current research. After all, his own work has put him in the middle of the controversy about research on human embryonic stem cells and human cloning.
WOW...what an illuminating read!.......2004-08-22
Such a fascinating look into the competitive world of scientific discovery and the breakthroughs that are being uncovered every minute behind closed doors. I love when he gets really technical into the science of the telomere and how this research can both help explain the immortal nature of cancer cells as well as the mortal nature of somatic cells. Shows how truly groundbreaking stem cell research can be (reverting mortal cells into immortal embryonic ones)! GREAT READ and highly recommended!
Book Description
A council of leading scientists and philosophers offers wise and provocative insights into the ethical implications of one of the most momentous developments of all-cloning.
Few avenues of scientific inquiry raise more thorny ethical questions than the cloning of human beings, a radical way to control our DNA. In August 2001, in conjunction with his decision to permit limited federal funding for stem-cell research, President George W. Bush created the President's Council on Bioethics to address the ethical ramifications of biomedical innovation. . Over the past year the Council, whose members comprise an all-star team of leading scientists, doctors, ethicists, lawyers, humanists, and theologians, has discussed and debated the pros and cons of cloning, whether in the service of producing children or as an aid to scientific research. The questions the Council members confronted do not have easy answers, and they did not seek to hide their differences behind an artificial consensus. Rather, the Council decided to allow each side to make its own best case, so that the American people can think about and debate these questions, which go to the heart of what it means to be a human being. Just as the dawn of the atomic age created ethical dilemmas for the United States, cloning presents us with similar quandaries that we are sure to wrestle with for decades to come.
Customer Reviews:
A balanced considerate report with strong reasons for opposing human cloning.......2007-04-12
There is a great deal of information provided in this report on the subject of human cloning. There is also a fundamental argument at the heart of the discussion concerning whether human cloning is advisable or not. I tend to agree with the line of thinking of the Chairman of the Comission Leon Kass, who basically argues that human cloning is incommensurate with human dignity, and the future benefit of mankind.
At the heart of such a perception is a belief that limitation is wisely built into the human situation. And that an opening up of 'reproduction' in this way will ultimately undermine our common humanity.
'Cloning' would probably lead to a promotion of a false hope of immortality on the part of those who could afford to have themselves have themselves cloned many times. It will lead to an undermining of our whole sense of family life, and human relations.
Oh Please!!...........More Theocratic Garbage.......2006-04-08
Leon R. Kass, M.D., P.h.D., is chairman of the 'President' George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics. This book was intelligently written without any reference to religion but the whole underlying message was "Do not touch Gods property even if it means healing the sick." These religious fundamentalists will do anything to STUNT us in our pursuits of happiness. This guy is for KEEPING PARALYZED PEOPLE PARALYZED. "Dr." Kass is for KEEPING AMPUTEES AMPUTATED. He's for KEEPING the depressed and suicidal DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL. Ill spare you the bull and say what Dr. Kass really wants to say - "I want you to follow Jesus with all your heart no matter how much pain and suffering you are in. If God made you depressed than thats how you should be. If God made you paralyzed then thats how you should be. If you are miserable in your existance then thats obviously how God wants you to be and thats how you will be with our new conservative laws that will effectively ban progress to help people". For this is the ONLY real argument you can use to support the banning of progress designed to help humans. - He wants everyone to follow the 'divine' rule of sanctity of life, not quality of life - an ugly ethic for a very stupid man.
Very powerful........2004-05-28
I am a science major and philosophy minor and I have found this book very provocative, well written and useful.
A collection of opinions with no firm ethical foundation........2004-03-28
The subject of human cloning has gained considerable press recently, due mainly to claims made by various individuals in successfully producing a human clone. These claims have remained unjustified, due to the refusal of these individuals to permit their scientific verification. The successful birth of a healthy human clone would be a major achievement, both from a scientific standpoint, and from an ethical one. It would give humans yet another option of how they are to reproduce themselves, and far from demeaning or devaluing human life, would actually celebrate it. There is no question that the first human clones will be viewed as somewhat of a novelty by many, but like all other humans born as the result of advances in technology, such as in vitro fertilization, they will be accepted as another unique and valuable addition to the human species, deserving of every legal right and every measure of respect.
Having unique fingerprints does not distinguish us as individuals, only our achievements do. It is the total contributions we have made in the entire span of our lives that distinguishes us as individuals. But Leon Kass, the main author of this book, and the chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics, has chosen the fingerprint as its focal point. Indeed, in the first sentence in the forward, he states that "the fingerprint has rich biological and moral significance", and that it "signifies our unique personal identity." It is ironic perhaps that he has chosen to address the issue of human cloning by beginning with a purely physical characterization of human individuality. Why worry about how different we are from others anyway? If a handful of clones, all with the same fingerprints, make brilliant contributions to humanity, should we not celebrate this? And if a physical attribute is needed to differentiate us as individuals, then should not human clones be regarded as unique by reference to the way they came into this world, i.e. by asexual reproduction?
The main virtue of this book is that it omits the vituperation that frequently accompanies discussion of genetic engineering and human cloning. It addresses the main issues calmly, without hype and without personal attacks against those who advocate the genetic engineering of or cloning of human beings. It does however present a very narrow view of the ethical philosophy behind the technology of genetic engineering. The authors cannot seem to find a sound ethical framework in which to speak. Utilitarian considerations behind reproductive cloning for example are abandoned, and are to be replaced with a "different frame of reference". The Council Members (interesting use of capital letters here) though never articulate in detail just what this ethical "frame of reference" is, but only seek a "deeper meaning" in that act of human procreation, which in their view will then give meaning to the raising of children.
The reproductive cloning of humans has, interestingly, a certain shock value for the council members (no caps are needed). It, to them, is the "most unusual, consequential, and most morally important" of the ways of bringing children into the world. Why indeed is this so? If the council members were suddenly to find several children in the world that were brought into the world as a result of cloning, would they find these children that much different than any other children born as the result of "ordinary" reproduction? The actions taken to produce cloned children are certainly different than taken to produce "ordinary" children, but will the children themselves be any different in terms of their humanity? Cloned children will play in the sand box, get into fights with each other, face the same struggles, and require the same kind of nurturing as any other children. The moral significance of the actions taken to voluntarily produce children shrink in comparison to their value as humans.
It is perhaps ironic that the council members believe that sexual procreation gives each human being a "sense of individual identity". They inadvertently express a belief that genetic structure is primarily responsible for making humans unique as individuals. Genes and not life experiences and the accumulated wisdom obtained from these experiences are believed by the council members to have great weight in determining our uniqueness as individuals. They don't believe in total genetic determinism though, as further analysis of the book reveals, but their emphasis on the genetic makeup is actually quite surprising given their anti-cloning stance. It is usually the technophilic pro-cloning groups who over-emphasize the role of genetics. One can safely bet though that both the council members and these groups would forget their differences if they saw a lovely cloned human child in a crib, one that is deserving of all the warmth and care that should be given to any other human on this planet.
Stem cell research has complicated the cloning debate, and with the announcement last month of promising work involving pluripotent human embryonic stem cell cells derived from a cloned blastocyst, and with the reorganization of the President's Council of Bioethics to make it more anti-cloning and anti-stem cell in its beliefs, one can certainly expect much more contention in the near future. Scientists, geneticists, and genetic engineers must make sure their work and its ethical justification are not left to the sometimes myopic and unjustified opinions such as can be found in this book. The members of the Council of Bioethics do not speak for everyone, and any authority regarding scientific or ethical matters imputed to them is incorrect. Any advice they give is purely their own personal opinion, a result of their own biases and personal history. As such it does not have moral or legal binding for anyone.
A Different Perspective on Cloning and Stem Cell Research.......2004-03-07
I found this report to be invaluable in determining where some in the scientific community and many politicians and bureacrats stand on the subject of cloning and stem cell research.
If you favor such research, for whatever reason, whether it be the development of tissues for the cures of disease or for other reasons, the Human Cloning and Human Dignity report will definitely give you an idea regarding the ideology of those who composed the report. The position of many of the members is common and frequently theological in nature, with much of the discussion concerning the subject of the earliest cell divisions, before recognizable human features have developed.
The position against human cloning in the report is recognizable, honest, and thorough so someone hoping to change public opinion in favor of cloning and stem cell research can determine what they need to do to address public opinion on the subject.
I found the report very informative.
Book Description
An insightful guide to understanding and navigating the ethical issues faced by anyone affected by the ethical dilemmas associated with current and emerging technologies
Ethics of Emerging Technologies provides the background, insight, and tools for approaching and solving ethical dilemmas across a broad range of topics. The text discusses ethical problems, using examples and reasoning tools that will aid engineers, scientists, managers, administrators, and the public who wish to understand risks, benefits, and possible approaches to resolving conflicts associated with new technologies in the context of the global community.
Solutions we choose to ethical dilemmas accompanying new technologies will profoundly affect future generations. Scientific facts and guides to decision-making for all associated with emerging technologies are presented. Some of the topics are:
* Human health and environmental effects of alternative energy production methods
* Communications and privacy
* Plagiarism and authorship
* Genetic modification of organisms
* Human and animal experimentation
* Synthetic biology and bioterrorism
* Confidentiality in science, engineering, and business communications
* Risks and consequences of enhancing human beings through new technologies
* Cloning of human beings and stem cell research
* Brain modifications
* Space exploration
Average customer rating:
- insight
- Crucial Information for Current Debates
- Cloning
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Cloning And The Future Of Human Embryo Research
Paul, Ed. Lauritzen
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
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ASIN: 0195128583 |
Book Description
The possibility that human beings may soon be cloned has generated enormous anxiety and fueled a vigorous debate about the ethics of contemporary science. Unfortunately, much of this debate about cloning has treated cloning as singular and revolutionary. The essays in Cloning and the Future of Human Embryo Research place debates about cloning in the context of reproductive technology and human embryo research. Although novel, cloning is really just the next step in a series of reproductive interventions that began with in vitro fertilization in 1978. Cloning, embryo research, and reproductive technology must therefore be discussed together in order to be understood. The authors of this volume bring these topics together by examining the status of preimplantation embryos, debates about cloning and embryo research, and the formulation of public policy. The book is distinctive in framing cloning as inextricably tied to embryo research and in offering both secular and religious perspectives on cloning and embryo research.
Customer Reviews:
insight.......2005-04-09
The focus of Cloning and the future of Human Embryo Research, edited by Paul Lauritzen is questioning "whether cloning ethical"". This book is a collection of research-based essays by various authors who have credentials related to cloning. Lauritzen uses essays that come from a moral standpoint. Lauritzen suggests that "it is better to see Dolly's birth as an intermediate step- perhaps the penultimate step" (4). I believe that this means that there is more to come in research of cloning. The book is well researched. I like the book because it pushes you to challenge the arguments. Although the book's biggest weakness is failure to recognize that the discussion on cloning should be part science and part morals. After reading the book, the chapters provide excellent information, because they are well argued and suffiently open-ended enough to include both sides of the arguments.
Crucial Information for Current Debates.......2001-08-04
This collection of essays provides immensely valuable information for those concerned by current debates over cloning, stem cell research, assisted reproduction, and the general march of technology in biomedical ethics. This book comes highly recommended by many in the bioethics community. These debates should include not just professional bioethicists, but anyone concerned with the state of our democracy and our humanity in these crucial issues for the twenty-first century.
Cloning.......2001-02-23
I an a clone of my Great Grandfather.
Average customer rating:
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Human Cloning: Religious Responses
Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Press
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Similar Items:
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The Ethics of Human Cloning
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Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans A Reader
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Who's Afraid of Human Cloning?
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God and the Embryo: Religious Voices on Stem Cell and Cloning
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The Human Cloning Debate
ASIN: 0664257712 |
Average customer rating:
- Important Book. Required reading for ALL Humans.
- A Broad Manifesto
- Kimbrell is the Carl Sagan of our "inner" universe.
- Can Life have Respect and also Biotech?
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The Human Body Shop: The Engineering and Marketing of Life
Andrew Kimberll
Manufacturer: Gateway Editions
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ASIN: 0895264188 |
Book Description
Details the degradation of human life with case studies of those who profit, and those who suffer, from selling the human body.
Customer Reviews:
Important Book. Required reading for ALL Humans........2006-10-27
Are you human? Do you have a body? Are you and organ donor?
Are you not an organ donor? Are you pro life or pro choice? Well then this book is for you.
It is out of date, but still very important. The out of date part just has to do with the fact that things have changed and more issues have developed since this book.
There is a reviewer here who says he is in the footnotes. Can he contact Andrew Kimbrell and have this book continued out to our current date, so I do not have to explain this book is out of date, but important. Used bookstores ignore this book because it is so old. They do not realize how important it still is. Old book do not have it do not want to obtain it is their attitude.
My only complaint you have to keep adding to this book each year or start an updated website like some books have with a note in the new book to go to it for updates on current bio ethical issues.
Who gets the parts? Who makes the parts?
Want to think further go for this topic and read fiction?
1)Read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley a book way ahead of its time.
2)Rent the Movie The Island a curent movie.
The main take away is that we need to talk about and deal with these ethics. Every one needs to think about their values and not ignore this. Obviously the answer is not an easy one, but get more facts. If you have not read this you are probably missing facts.
One reviewer says this is not a ballanced book nope it is not, but we do not hear this perspective much at all so it provides ballance in the world.
Amazon has a reference for this if you like this you will like other books. Body for Life. That is a diet book, so you really want to skim those suggestions because they just pull up books that say body in them that have nothing to do with bio-ethics or this book. Obviously computer generated.
A Broad Manifesto.......2001-12-29
In the vein of his mentor Jeremy Rifkin, Andy Kimbrell has written a broadside condemning all aspects of the bio-industries extant at the 1993 publication date of this book. Well written, and thoroughly researched this is a highly readable in-depth review of the major bioethical issues facing us today. I recommend this book highly and not just because I am in the index. The chapter in which I am mentioned deals with the Harvard or oncomouse and patents on living beings. Andy's account is accurate, well researched, and his opinions are thoughtful and well grounded. If you are not repelled by the politics of Jeremy Rifkin, but have an open mind on the questions of the ethics of biotechnology, this book is well worth your attention.
Kimbrell is the Carl Sagan of our "inner" universe........2001-05-03
Highly recommended! Kimbrell's book is both thought provoking and informative and is very hard to put down. He addresses the things that the newspapers do not tell us about surrogate motherhood, organ marketing and genetic engineering. He tells about the odd court cases and rulings dealing with issues society has never had to deal with before. He also gives examples of how genetics is being used to affect our lives without our consent. The book does an excellent job of raising the reader's awareness of how our species future is presently at a crossroads and why we should be concerned. Interesting topic, clearly presented and well referenced for those wanting more.
Can Life have Respect and also Biotech?.......2000-04-25
Thousands of men and women were originally conceived in petri dishes in laboratories from sperm sold by anonymous men for an average payment of 50 dollars. What is the long-term psychological effect on such persons who must live with the knowledge that their conception occurred outside a womb and their fathers were involved in it only for money? This is one of the many questions that Andrew Kimbrell raises in The Human Body Shop, in which he covers the full range of issues relating to the treatment of the human body and its components as marketable commodities, from the controversy in the 1950's and 60's over the sale of human blood to the looming possibilities of human genetic engineering. These are global issues; for example, while the sale of body parts for transplants is illegal in the U.S., the sale of kidneys is a thriving business in India and other developing countries, where the poor are selling their body parts to the rich. Another controversial practice is surrogate motherhood; thousands of babies have been born of mothers who were contracted for the nine-month gestation service, usually for a fee of 10,000 dollars.
Since a 1980 Supreme Court decision that a living organism (an oil-eating microbe) could be patented, the patenting of life has become an accepted practice. As of 1997 over forty animals had been patented, including mice, turkeys, and rabbits. Human cells and hundreds of human genes have also been patented. Kimbrell poses the question of whether genetic engineering will eventually lead to the patenting of a human being?
While treating the reader to a highly interesting recounting of the histories of controversial biotech practices, Kimbrell makes a cogent argument that the marketing of life is dehumanizing; he calls for increased government control in the biotech field, especially as we enter the era of human genetic engineering. There is unquestionably a need for more public debate on biotech issues, but Kimbrell could have helped even more to further such debate by devoting a bit more of his book to the views of biotech proponents, even though he passionately disagrees with such views. Kimbrell's failure to favor the reader with a broader range of views dropped the rating for The Human Body Shop from five stars to four.
Amazon.com
This slim volume is the best introduction to the ethical debate over human cloning now available, as two of America's most respected public intellectuals tangle over the question of whether it's a good idea to let people make genetic duplicates of themselves. Kass is firmly against human cloning; Wilson, although not exactly an enthusiast, sees no essential problem with it as long as cloned children are raised in loving, two-parent households.
The book is divided into two parts, with each writer laying out an initial position followed by mutual critiques. Kass seems to get the better of the exchange, but both writers present their views clearly, with occasional humor. (Wilson at one point shrugs off the concern that cloning will replace sexual reproduction: "Sex is more fun than cloning.... Procreation is a delight.") This outstanding book will shape a debate that's only just gotten underway. --John J. Miller
Book Description
This accessible volume promises to inform the public policy debate over the permissible conduct of genetic research and the permissible uses of its discoveries.
Customer Reviews:
A look at two conservative views of cloning.......2007-03-14
This book is a collection of four essays written by Kass and Wilson. Both men appear to be conservative by their views stated in each essay. The first two essays are stand alone; each mans' opinions on the issue of cloning and the second two are rebuttals from the two on the previous essays. Each man is a conservative and offers different stances on how cloning should be implemented or if it should altogether be banned. A good look at a side of science that some people may not know or understand. In that since it is a good read but many of the assumptions in the book are very opinionated and not very factual, well at least from Kass.
Good read for all........2006-05-03
On February 23, 1997, Dr. Ian Wilmut announced that his research team at the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, Scotland had cloned a 6 year old ewe. This announcement produced hype and hysteria in all directions. Leon R. Kass and James Q. Wilson wrote essays regarding their opinions of the potential consequences, both good and bad.Leon R. Kass' essay "Wisdom and Repugnance"(The Weekly Standard, May 26, 1997) focuses on what lead up to cloning and why it will turn our lives into that of Brave New World. James Q. Wilson's essay "The Paradox of Cloning"(The New Republic, June 2, 1997), attacks the issue from another angle. Wilson acknowledges the philosophical and theological issues, but open-mindedly sees no problem with clones being provided for married 2-parent families.
Both essays are very engaging and cover many angles. I believe that Kass' argument is more explicit and practical than Wilson's. Wilson merely states that cloning will happen and it will be abused, so why not establish some good from it. Kass also covers more in-depth the many sides of cloning and even, in a way, deduces what Wilson says. The information in the book is useful and I recommend it to anyone that needs a crash course on the issue of cloning. I also recommend it on the basis that cloning is an issue that affects everyone and it is important to be informed on the hard decisions facing our times.
Theocratic Trash!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-04-08
Leon R. Kass, M.D., P.h.D., is chairman of the 'President' George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics. This book was intelligently written without any reference to religion but the whole underlying message was "Do not touch Gods property even if it means healing the sick." These religious fundamentalists will do anything to STUNT us in our pursuits of happiness. This guy is for KEEPING PARALYZED PEOPLE PARALYZED. "Dr." Kass is for KEEPING AMPUTEES AMPUTATED. He's for KEEPING the depressed and suicidal DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL. Ill spare you the bull and say what Dr. Kass really wants to say - "I want you to follow Jesus with all your heart no matter how much pain and suffering you are in. If God made you depressed than thats how you should be. If God made you paralyzed then thats how you should be. If you are miserable in your existance then thats obviously how God wants you to be and thats how you will be with our new conservative laws that will effectively ban progress to help people". For this is the ONLY real argument you can use to support the banning of progress designed to help humans. - He wants everyone to follow the 'divine' rule of sanctity of life, not quality of life - an ugly ethic for a very stupid man.
The Two Sides of the Clone.......2003-11-22
This slim volume is an excellent introduction to the multifaceted issues involved in cloning.
There are two types of cloning. One involves harvesting stem cells from embryos ("therapeutic cloning"). These are the biological equivalent of a template. They can develop into any kind of mature functional cell and thus help cure many degenerative and auto-immune diseases.
The other kind of cloning is much decried in popular culture - and elsewhere - as the harbinger of a Brave, New World. A nucleus from any cell of a donor is embedded in an egg whose own nucleus has been removed. The egg is then implanted in a woman's womb and a cloned baby is born nine months later. Biologically, the cloned infant is a replica of the donor.
Cloning is often confused with other advances in bio-medicine and bio-engineering - such as genetic selection. It cannot - in itself - be used to produce "perfect humans" or select sex or other traits. Hence, some of the arguments against cloning are either specious or fuelled by ignorance.
It is true, though, that cloning, used in conjunction with other bio-technologies, raises serious bio-ethical questions. Scare scenarios of humans cultivated in sinister labs as sources of spare body parts, "designer babies", "master races", or "genetic sex slaves" - formerly the preserve of B sci-fi movies - have invaded mainstream discourse.
Still, cloning touches upon Mankind's most basic fears and hopes. It invokes the most intractable ethical and moral dilemmas. As an inevitable result, the debate is often more passionate than informed. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited"
Insightful.......2003-01-20
At the time this book was written no one had yet claimed to have cloned a human being and the debate was raging, should science even try? Many of the pros and cons that are being discussed today were being discussed 4 years ago when this book was written, shortly after Dolly, the cloned sheep was born.
The many impacts of cloning should be contemplated upon openly so people can make up their minds on this touchy subject. Some of the impacts can not be thought of at this time. This book covers not only the biological impacts but many of the social impacts that could present themselves. Should we allow cloning? Limit it? Make it illegal totally? Legal for research?
This is an insightful book that covers both sides of the debate. I was surprised by some of the conclusions and not by others. I disagreed with some and agreed with others. Thought of some points and not others. This is a good start for the debate on human cloning.
Book Description
Saving lives versus taking lives: These are the stark terms in which the public regards human embryo research--a battleground of extremes, a war between science and ethics. Such a simplistic dichotomy, encouraged by vociferous opponents of abortion and proponents of medical research, is precisely what Jane Maienschein seeks to counter with this book. Whose View of Life? brings the current debates into sharper focus by examining developments in stem cell research, cloning, and embryology in historical and philosophical context and by exploring legal, social, and ethical issues at the heart of what has become a political controversy.
Drawing on her experience as a researcher, teacher, and congressional fellow, Jane Maienschein provides historical and contemporary analysis to aid understanding of the scientific and social forces that got us where we are today. For example, she explains the long-established traditions behind conflicting views of how life begins--at conception or gradually, in the course of development. She prepares us to engage a major question of our day: How are we, as a 21st-century democratic society, to navigate a course that is at the same time respectful of the range of competing views of life, built on the strongest possible basis of scientific knowledge, and still able to respond to the momentous opportunities and challenges presented to us by modern biology? Maienschein's multidisciplinary perspective will provide a starting point for further attempts to answer this question.
Customer Reviews:
"Conflicting views, evolving dogma on embryos and stem cells" .......2005-08-24
"Whose View of Life?" puts the competing views of life underlying the controversy over embryos and embryonic stem cell research in clear historical context. Dr. Maienschein shows how even strict dogmatic views have evolved under the influence of technology, particularly the ability to visualize the embryo and fetus.
In this regard, it seems to me that such seeing does not necessarily bring philosophical enlightenment.
This excellent book can help clarify one's own thinking on this crucial controversy, as well as better one's understanding of perspectives other than ones own.
Navigating Cloning and Stem Cell Controversies.......2004-03-10
These are highly contentious issues where many have long- and emotionally-held views. Maienschien first puts these issues into historical context. The questions, ethical and moral, that they pose are not really all that new. Through history decisions have been made sometimes on science, sometimes in ignorance, and sometimes in the absence of real understanding.
What comes through is that the science of human development has been an evolving process and, like all of science, it has had no shortage of breakthroughs, brilliant insights, and egos. The bottom line is that science does not yet have all the answers...and in some cases...the answer may not lie in the realm of science.
So what are politicians to do about this. How do they decide? Make law? Balance the competing and strongly-held views on this issue?
By the close of the book we know Maienschein's position, but unlike some who have written in this area, she does not then discount those with whom she disagrees. Rather, she seems to suggest that responsible decisions must always remember that there are those who will disagree with any particular stance. The challenge for our leaders, then, is to make decisions that are "right" and not those that are politically expedient.
An excellent book. Well worth the read.
Books:
- Hell's Belles (Hell On Earth: Book 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Human Molecular Genetics, Third Edition
- If Not for the Cat (Horn Book Fanfare List (Awards))
- Into the Wilderness: An Artist's Journey
- Introduction to California Plant Life, Revised Edition
- Kayaking the Keys: 50 Great Paddling Adventures in Florida's Southernmost Archipelago
Books Index
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The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy (Basic Bioethics)
Stem Cell Controversy: Debating the Issues (Contemporary Issues)
The Stem Cell Divide: The Facts, the Fiction, And the Fear Driving the Greatest Scientific, Political And Religious Debate of Our Time
Stem Cell Research: Medical Applications And Ethical Controversy (The New Biology)
Stem Cell Research: New Frontiers in Science and Ethics
