This post isn't exactly related to the current thread, just inspired by it. If you're looking for reactions to other posts, look away NOW.

Right, that's the disclaimer out of the way. There's been quite a bit of debate in the press recently (does the name Severino Antinori ring any bells with anyone?) over cloning. I read in a magazine (Focus magazine, I may have mentioned it before) that there are two types of cloning: therapeutic cloning, where human egg cells are injected with cloned genetic material to make a set of cells that can be specialised into skin, liver etc., and reproductive cloning, where full organisms are made. Apparently, most experts on the subject think that therapeutic cloning is a Good Thing, while reproductive cloning is a Bad Thing. What I don't understand is why this should be so. I'm fine with therapeutic cloning and I can't understand the fuss made over reproductive cloning. As far as I can see, these are the reasons why reproductive cloning should be Bad.

1. It's playing God.

Fair enough, but we're doing that with most forms of genetic engineering, aren't we? And not *that* many people oppose the genetically-engineered bacterial production of human insulin and HGH (human growth hormone).

2. The clone hasn't got its own genetic identity.

Neither do identical twins. All you're doing is giving someone the same genetic make-up as someone else; nurture is extremely important in growing up and there's absolutely no guarantee that the clone will look or behave exactly like its donor.

3. There would be intense media hype over the cloned child.

Yes, I do accept this, but it wouldn't be much worse than for a child with, say, a pig's heart implanted into their body. If the whole thing was done very secretly, that wouldn't be a problem. Which leads me on to the next point...

4. The technology could be used for bad things too.

That's true, but if Neo-Nazis were, for instance, trying to clone Hitler and by some chance succeeded, there's no guarantee he would grow up to be an evil dictator. I can't see all that many ways to do evil just by making more humans.

5. The child would probably be killed by a "righteous" citizenry.

Yes, possibly. If it was a secret experiment, however, that probably wouldn't be a problem.

This lot doesn't mean I'm in favour of creating a cloned human (before people with green biros start calling me the antichrist). It's just my thoughts on the subject, and my confusion as to why it's so bad. Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Phil-"Now the citizenry are coming to kill me too! Aaaargh!"-bee