The Bong Zone

Cloning to Begin Next Month in California

Posted on: May 22, 2008 5:11 am

Score: 92

Well an auction for cloning for Man's Best Friend begins next month in California.

So what does everyone think of cloning pets? Is this a good thing or a bad thing for society? Is it a stepping stone toward human cloning? Is human cloning bad or good? Can we ever stop human cloning from happening in the future or is it just naive to think so? Etc, etc, etc....

Now the question becomes: Would you ever clone your pet (if the cost was say only around $100) in the future? Or would it be ethically wrong for you to do it?

I haven't really formulated a strong opinion on this one way nor the other. I've got some pros and cons to each side currently. I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this complex topic.

Before you continue, you may want to at least watch this quick video:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=7916095&ch=4226722&src=news

Here's the same company in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/us/21dog.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Here's the company itself:

http://www.bioarts.com/

Also, for the record, this same man has successfully cloned cats and sold them commercially when he was the CEO of Genetic Savings & Clone.... (I LOVE that name! lol) The point being that this has already been done. Here's a link from National Geographic about the cats (the first line of "Now cats may have more than nine lives" is classic):

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0324_040324_catclones.html

Anyway, sound off on what you think.... I'm sure there will be a full spectrum of opinions forthcoming. :)

Cheers!

Category: General

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The Bong Show Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 24, 2007	Posted on: May 22, 2008 5:15 am Score: 91 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California From a sports perspective, if the University of Georgia clones Uga VI, does that mean once Uga VI dies that the next dog is Uga VI(b) or does it become Uga VII? lol Cheers! [ Reply to Comment ]
jakobe1919 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Apr 30, 2008	Posted on: May 22, 2008 6:58 am Score: 42 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California I did a term paper about cloning and the positive and negative effects last semester, and there is so much research to finger through on this subject. You'd surprised to see how many laws there are against cloning in other countries around the world, but only 1 in our own backyard. What is America waiting for? Also, if you take a look at the percentage of people against cloning, they out way the the ones for it by a landslide. So if the majority is against cloning why is it still going on? What good can come from this? [ Reply to Comment ]
fansince66 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 20, 2008	Posted on: May 22, 2008 8:11 am Score: 93 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California Interesting topic, Bong. A lot of split opinions among those of us with open minds and a lot of strong opinions from those of us with extra large RIGHT toes. I have very mixed feelings on this issue and need to do some real research and get my facts straight before I post a real opinion. Hence, I'm off to the video store to rent Multiplicity so I can form an informed opinion. Be back with the inside scoop later. [ Reply to Comment ]
Red Hessian Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 8, 2007	Posted on: May 22, 2008 10:55 am Score: 94 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California I'm off to the video store to rent Multiplicity rethink that. I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean nobody should. Personally I'd just find it a little creepy, but hey if it doesn't bother you then I don't see the problem with paying someone willing to do it. It doesn't have an affect on anyone else. Kind of a cool stride in scientific advancement, really. Who wouldn't want a replicator? Think of this as the first of many steps in that direction. Hmmm.....I wonder if I could clone myself so they can work while I chill out doing whatever it is I want to do. Well, come to think of it I suppose I'd have to feed and care for it. It would probably even have feelings and stuff. BAH! Just gimme a robot. Do you think you'd have those 'twin powers' where one says they can detect the other's distress and so on? [ Reply to Comment ]
fansince66 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 20, 2008	Posted on: May 22, 2008 2:37 pm Score: 78 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California Does this dispell the "Paul is dead" theory? SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Still ~~watching the movie~~ researching! [ Reply to Comment ]
WarpedMind Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 13, 2007	Posted on: May 22, 2008 3:07 pm Score: 92 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California Dang, this is a tough one. If cloning does indeed start next month in CA, I know a couple of gals there I wouldn't mind having clones of. Aside from being able to clone chicks, the Marines really would just need "a few good men" -- the rest could be cloned. And if I decided to turn to a life of crime, a clone with the same fingerprints and DNA would make a handy alibi for me. Of course, the downside is that my poor clone would take the rap for something he didn't do (not to mention the fact that if decided to do a crime, I'd be the guy stuck wearing the proverbial iron mask). Dolly the Sheep represents another downside of cloning: it's only a matter of time before someone puts the cloning of farm animals to bad use.. For those who wonder about Paul McCartney, check out the Strawberry Fields Forever video on Anthology. Playing the "tree scene" (about a minute or so into the song, when Paul is up in the tree) in super slo-mo and checking out the facial hair (or lack thereof) in the philtrum area over the next minute or so is sure to fascinate. A slo-mo look at Paul's handling of the bass guitar when the attendant hands it to him at the table in the subsequent Penny Lane video will really make ya wonder if Paul's a lefty or a righty; he himself doesn't appear to be sure.. To my knowledge, these two "clues" are Warpy originals; I haven't seen them mentioned in any other medium, and I've seen more than my share when it comes to this topic. [ Reply to Comment ]
Cous4th Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 13, 2006	Posted on: May 22, 2008 8:27 pm Score: 89 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California I'd say something about the questionable nature of playing God but I'm afraid Pack-Jason would start another thread about it. Seriously, though, I don't think that we, as a culture, are mature enough (not really sure how else to say it) to replicate life. There's a big difference between cloning unused stem cells and popping out Fido2 to stop the kids from crying. I don't think it's ethically right to clone any sentient creature, but in the future overpopulation might make it necessary for livestock. I'm just worried as to where we go next. Is the sanctity of human life (yes, that term again) intact once we can create it through science? Will feminists have to find another scenario where men are rendered useless? Answers to these questions and more can be found in next decade's Newsweek! Don't miss it! [ Reply to Comment ]
The Bong Show Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 24, 2007	Posted on: May 22, 2008 10:08 pm Score: 90 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California I did a term paper about cloning and the positive and negative effects last semester, and there is so much research to finger through on this subject. Cool! I'm glad you are here then. :) You'd surprised to see how many laws there are against cloning in other countries around the world, but only 1 in our own backyard. Very interesting. Also, if you take a look at the percentage of people against cloning, they out way the the ones for it by a landslide. Just because the majority may be against something does not mean they are correct. ;) What good can come from this? I can think of some good things. :) Nice post! Cheers! [ Reply to Comment ]
The Bong Show Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 24, 2007	Posted on: May 22, 2008 10:20 pm Score: 88 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California Interesting topic, Bong. Thanks... I am interested by it as well. I have very mixed feelings on this issue and need to do some real research and get my facts straight before I post a real opinion. Honestly, that is one of the best lines I have ever read on this site to date. If the vast majority of the people on here had that same attitude toward everything, this world would be a MUCH better place. I actually thought a lot about that line as I saw it before I left this morning. I asked myself how I really think process-wise in situations like this. For me personally, I realized that I always like to hear other people's views on things before researching. It gives me a less biased approach that way. Thus, my process goes something like this: 1) I know a enough about cloning to be mildly dangerous. 2) I then apply that knowledge along with logic from all the other stuff I know about the world around me. 3) Then I do the Bobby Fischer thing where I essentially play a game of chess against myself in an attempt to reach a final opinion. 4) I've convinced myself numerous times in the process that cloning was bad and that cloning was good. Once I thought it was bad, I argued against myself trying to see flaws and see if I can argue that it was good. When I found it to be good, I did the same thing in reverse. 5) Now I feel like I have a decent base, but I still need to know a lot more. 6) I welcome other points of views and opinions so that I am not just reading one person's opinion about it in a science magazine. An athiest's POV, an agnostic's POV, a religious person's POV, a scientist's POV, an animal lover's POV, etc, etc, etc are all equally important to me at this point. 7) After hearing all the various viewpoints, then I'll probably do my own research. This way, I just don't want to be biased toward the article that I like the most. It helps me play that same game of chess except this time agianst the research so to speak. In any event, I realize that was a tangent, but I found it interesting to at least myself, so I thought I'd share it. LOL But GREAT point! Cheers! [ Reply to Comment ]
The Bong Show Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 24, 2007	Posted on: May 22, 2008 10:25 pm Score: 88 Cloning to Begin Next Month in California rethink that. LOL Michael Keaton was better as Batman. :) I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean nobody should. Personally I'd just find it a little creepy, but hey if it doesn't bother you then I don't see the problem with paying someone willing to do it. It doesn't have an affect on anyone else. Kind of a cool stride in scientific advancement, really. Who wouldn't want a replicator? :) You are doing what I found myself doing. You said you didn't want to do it, but then would be cool with the replicator. :) Hmmm.....I wonder if I could clone myself so they can work while I chill out doing whatever it is I want to do. Well, come to think of it I suppose I'd have to feed and care for it. It would probably even have feelings and stuff. All of those are great points. Slavery could become a huge issue again in the future. Do you think you'd have those 'twin powers' where one says they can detect the other's distress and so on? Or maybe like Zan and Jana. :) Nice post Red! Cheers! [ Reply to Comment ]