In this blog post, we will examine the potential medical benefits of human cloning technology, as well as the resulting ethical controversies and concerns regarding the violation of human dignity.
As society and science and technology have advanced, people have naturally made ethical progress. These changes are not merely the result of technological advancement but also the outcome of deep reflection on human dignity and the value of life. Even today, the most important considerations in various scientific and technological research projects must be human dignity and the value of life. Such ethical considerations should not be mere ideals but essential criteria for scientific research and experimentation. In the past, ethical issues were often overlooked in the pursuit of scientific progress, but today people recognize that ethics and science are not in conflict with each other, but rather complement one another.
For example, while ethical considerations were neglected in research involving human life in the past, today research itself may become impossible without strictly adhering to ethical standards. This signifies that it is no longer merely about the advancement of science and technology; rather, how well human dignity is protected during that process has become increasingly important. Consequently, there is growing deliberation over whether to proceed with research by focusing on the benefits of scientific and technological development or by prioritizing ethical considerations. In other words, the conflict between scientific judgment and ethical judgment has become inevitable.
One such example is cloning research. When people think of cloning, the first thing that usually comes to mind is Dolly the cloned sheep. In July 1996, Dolly—the world’s first cloned animal, born after countless attempts—sent shockwaves through the scientific community. Those who witnessed the success of this research likely felt immense anticipation, but at the same time, a fear that the completion of human cloning technology was not far off. When the word “human” is added to “cloning”—the process of creating an individual genetically identical to another—the majority of people would likely voice their opposition, citing bioethical concerns first and foremost. This is because there are significant worries about the risk of violating human dignity. Does human cloning research truly bring us more harm than good? Should human cloning research not be attempted at all?
How could human cloning research be utilized? What benefits does it offer, and what advancements could it bring to humanity? First, human cloning research is not limited to “reproductive cloning,” which involves creating a complete replica of an individual. There is also research such as “therapeutic cloning,” which uses the same principle to create embryos in order to obtain embryonic stem cells. Such research can be viewed positively in that it has the potential to provide tangible benefits, such as the treatment of diseases.
An embryo is defined as the stage from the moment a fertilized egg implants in the uterus until the eighth week. A cluster of cells from a fertilized egg that is about four to five days old is removed and placed in conditions that promote continuous cell division. After cloning a sufficient number of embryos, they are induced to differentiate into muscle or nerve tissue. Alternatively, organs cultured using principles such as somatic cell nuclear transfer—which utilizes a patient’s somatic cells—can contribute to the treatment of incurable diseases and the extension of human life. For example, this could lead to new medical advancements capable of saving people suffering from currently untreatable diseases.
However, we must not overlook the ethical issues that the development of such technologies will raise. Is a baby born through human cloning technology “born” or merely “made”? Must a baby born through human cloning technology exist as a non-autonomous moral subject, produced for the purposes of others and regarded merely as a tool? Such questions compel us to consider where we should draw the ethical boundaries of human cloning technology.
First, given that there are already many couples who require assisted reproductive technologies, there seems to be little cause for concern regarding the first question. Just because an individual is a clone does not mean we need to view them differently from others. I believe it is wrong to perceive cloned individuals solely as beings meant to fulfill our needs. If human cloning were to occur, would there be a risk that human individuality would disappear, and would autonomy be threatened? It might be helpful to consider the case of identical twins. Like cloned individuals, they share the same genetic information. Does that mean we can ignore their individual personalities and autonomy, even though they share the same physical appearance? In this regard, I believe environmental influences play a much greater role. Just as twins raised in different environments may look identical but possess entirely different personalities and ways of thinking.
Of course, if cloned individuals are viewed merely as tools to be exploited, and cloning research is conducted for profit, it should rightfully be prohibited. I believe that if legal and social regulations are established to curb the misuse of cloning technology, human cloning technology could achieve success that brings us more benefits than harm. Our society has already established various ethical standards and legal regulations to support the advancement of science and technology. For example, there are legal regulations and ethical discussions regarding artificial intelligence and gene-editing technology. Similarly, for human cloning technology, we can clearly define its boundaries through social consensus.
Let us look back at human history. The accumulation of new empirical knowledge and numerous advancements have brought about changes in humanity. The same applies to ethical standards. Just as ethical awareness has grown over time, once the possibilities of cloning research open up, a new understanding of humanity—along with corresponding regulations and ethical standards—will also take shape. Furthermore, these ethical standards will not merely hinder scientific and technological progress; rather, they will serve to guide the direction of technology so that it can bring genuine benefits to humanity.
People fear the unknown. Although negative sentiments are widespread because the future brought about by human cloning research remains uncertain, unconditional rejection is not the answer. Scientific progress is sometimes revolutionary. Human cloning research, which may involve countless risks, could also achieve a success that brings about tremendous change after navigating a precarious tightrope walk. However, if such success is achieved while ignoring ethical foundations, the outcome could bring tragedy to humanity. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to seek a path where science and ethics advance together.
