
From microwavable burritos to the Internet, science has been on a great run of inventing technologies that improve our quality of life. But the next big advancement courtesy of the lab-coat crowd may look a lot like you.
Just this week, the government of Australia issued the world's first license to clone human embryos to the delight of mad scientists everywhere. While the lab in question only aims to extract embryonic stem cells -- not produce living organisms -- this decision does move humanity one step closer to the day we will all have the option of creating a living, breathing carbon copy of ourselves.
The overriding advantage to having a clone is that, in a pinch, one could provide a kidney, some bone marrow or a liver slice. Of course, some ethicists and most religious leaders would take take issue with a human body chop shop. You'd also probably have to deal with the clone on a day-to-day basis. Clearly, there's a lot to think about when doubling down on your DNA.
Check out our pros and cons and weigh in after the jump.
Pros
-- Clones are perfect for testing new hairstyles without having to wear a hat for a couple weeks.
-- Not only would having a clone allow you to drink like a fish, but it would also take the edge off eating potentially poisonous wild mushrooms.
-- The pranks, oh the pranks.
Cons
-- There's always a chance you will be stuck with an evil clone, who resents being created as an organ farm and having to sport the obligatory evil fu manchu mustache.
-- It might be hard to stop at one, especially when you realize a clone can also do things like sit in for you at boring meetings. But managing a team of clones would be exhausting. Even though "Multiplicity" was just a movie, has anyone heard from Michael Keaton since?
-- Whether it stems from love, spite or a farcical comedy of errors, it is virtually guaranteed your clone will sleep with your wife or girlfriend.
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Friday 03 October
By sarah
This is a serious question. If you clonned yourself ,and u needed body parts for youself, is that considered killing ?
Wouldnt that eventally require a hole new set of laws and lawyers to decided what to do with this hole idea?Or how do u know that the parts u needed would be good? If u had bad kidneys per say, wouldnt they also be bad or would they turn out healthy?
Another question, if u wanted your clone to be the same age as u how would u age the clone? or what if the clone was more sucessful that u are or married well then what? again that brings up the hole question of murder?
yes i know thats a sick thought but its in everyones thoughts . just questions to think about.
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Tuesday 30 September
By Donna
You have some great points.
I would need several clones and aged progressed to my age now. I wouldn't use them for spare parts, so I don't have to worry about the whole murder thing. I would need one clone to strictly keep house. I would need one clone to be the driver for the children. I would like one more to use at my discretion - for whatever errands pop up.
So I would basically be using them as servants.
So this brings up a whole other topic. If I clone myself, do I own the clones?
Wednesday 01 October
By coby
who decides which body get the parts qnd which one gives the body parts up?
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