Physical Hazards
Cloning and IGM would put children at risk of serious genetic and developmental problems. Cloned animals have been affected by placental and umbilical cord abnormalities, severe immunological deficiencies, anemia, organ deformities, and retarded development. In some species a "large offspring syndrome" is common. Other cloned animals appear healthy when they are born but soon die for no apparent reason. [ Technologies >> Human Cloning ]
These developmental problems appear to be the result of reprogramming errors inherent in the cloning process itself. It appears unlikely that a procedure could be developed that would eliminate them. There is no medical justification for knowingly exposing a child to these sorts of risks.
Social and Psychological Effects
Cloned children would be born as genetic near-duplicates of a previously existing person; genetically modified children would be born with preselected traits. They would come into the world expected to look, act, and perform according to the specifications selected and paid for. These expectations would strongly condition the nature of relationships and communications among children and their parents, other adults, and other children.
It would be difficult for parents not to feel disappointed, even
"cheated," if a genetically modified child did not express a trait
that had been selected and paid for. Unreasonable and unfulfilled
parental expectations can certainly flourish in the absence of
genetic modification, but expectations grounded in technical claims
and expensive procedures would likely be far more
pronounced.
Improving the Lives of Children
Dramatic improvements in the lives of children are well within our reach, and require no manipulation of inheritable genes. All of our children would benefit from better health care, cleaner air and water, more healthful food, and improved childcare and educational opportunities. Proposals to genetically redesign children substitute a hubristic technical fix for committed and compassionate social engagement.
Related Articles
Evelyne Shuster, "My Clone, Myself, My Daughter, My Sister: Echoes
of Le Petit Prince," prepared for the International Symposium on
Bioethics and the Rights of the Child, Monaco, April 28-30,
2000
Resources
>> Items >> "My Clone, Myself, My Daughter, My
Sister"
Off-Site Links
The
president's bioethics committee outlines ethical concerns for
children and families raised by the new genetics:
http://www.bioethics.gov/background/workpaper6.html
A
large body of research describes the possible psychological and
health dangers of human cloning:
- A Bioethicist discusses the psychological and physical dangers
of human cloning: Dr. Donald Bruce, "Human cloning: The 'Terrible
Odds'" BBC News (March 9, 2001)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1211000/1211482.stm - Recent research on cloned embryos suggests that gestating a
cloned child is potentially very dangerous for the mother:
"Cloned baby cancer warning," BBC News (April 10, 2002)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1921000/1921205.stm
More Information
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