Observations of a News Junkie

A doctor in the Middle East has implanted cloned human embryos in four women. None of them became pregnant, but Dr. Panayiotis Zavos says he’s not finished experimenting yet.

This is insane.

There are huge health risks for clones, not to mention it’s pretty much completely unethic (in my view). We humans are always trying to play God and think we can create or change the way things are. Even if we can and do make changes, it’s rarely improvements.

News flash: Life is designed and reproduced the way it is for good reasons. God knows what he’s doing, while we’re just down here fooling around in the dark. We’ve managed to mess up a lot already and I’m scared if this is the way of the future.

Zavos also claimed to have created hybrid cells – mixing human embryos with animal cells. Most religious and political leaders have condemned his work. Other medical professionals say he hasn’t allowed his work to be scrutinized or proven, and that he’s giving people false hope. He seems undeterred so far.

Another thing: I don’t understand the women who volunteer to be part of this experiment. Why? For the fame or prestige for birthing the first cloned embryo? They would have known there was an extremely tiny chance of success, so why would they put their emotions and body through that? If they are that desperate to have a baby, they should adopt an orphan or something.

And seriously, if this ever works. The classic “You’re unique; you’re special” line just won’t work anymore. It’s shocking enough I’d imagine to be told you’re adopted. Being told you’re a clone of someone else (like a deceased relative or something) would be downright traumatizing. Can you imagine the therapy bills? How does someone become a self-confident person with a solid identity after that news?

There’s a group of scientists in South Korea who have cloned dogs and recently created the first puppy with deliberately altered genetics: they glow in the dark. I think it’s disgusting. I can’t imagine what the human race will look like in a century if they start experimenting with our genetics like that.

I think stem cell research for the purpose of human medical healing makes sense. God created us to explore, discover and find ways to harness the amazing science that he invented. I’m still shaky on embryonic stem cell use, but I’m for the concept as a whole. It’s the cloning part I have serious problems with. God created us to use what he’s given us for the benefit of mankind, not so we can pretend we’re him.