What is Human Reproductive Cloning?
Reproductive cloning means making an identical copy of a person - creating a new human being with the same DNA as an existing person. This is what people usually mean when they talk about human clones.
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
Reproductive cloning isn't allowed in humans, but it has happened with many animals. The process is the same as for the start of therapeutic cloning - you take a cell from the patient, remove the nucleus and put it into an empty egg, and shock the embryo to life. With reproductive cloning, you then need to implant the embryo, and it should grow like any normal pregnancy.
Why would you do this?
In animals, if you have a prized specimen, it is useful to make copies. With humans, this seems wrong. Potential uses include:
- a clone army (like in Star Wars) - find a perfect soldier and make several copies
- to replace a child who has died
- a 'spare' dictator - the idea is that an evil dictator may want spare clones in case they are assasinated
- 'spare part clones' - a wealthy person may want to keep a spare copy who could provide organs as and when needed
