Leave humans as God and nature created them
Human life is sacred and should not be treated as just another laboratory in which to conduct experiments.
By manipulating genes, we will be playing God and attempting to circumvent the laws of nature that govern creation.
Stem cell research sounds harmless, but taking cells from human embryos is an unacceptable sacrifice of potential life to save another.
For better or worse, humans are created with a set of genes that have evolved over hundreds of generations. Even our imperfections may have a purpose. If science gives us the ability to cure people who carry different genetic traits, eugenics is one short step away. Who decides what's a bad gene that must be fixed? Do we want to breed human beings like we breed cattle?
What Should be Done?
Ban all forms of human cloning Ban federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and discourage it in the private sector Focus on improving existing infertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination, and promote adoption as an alternative. Limit genetic testing to cases where doctors can actually offer treatment, and keep test results strictly confidential
Arguments For This Approach
The ramifications of medical technology, no matter how well intended, can turn dark. In the early 20th century, 30 states enacted laws to protect children from possibly being born with physical or mental retardation, leading to the forced sterilization of certain U.S. citizens. Some parents are already trying to select their children's traits using existing fertility technology, which shows the potential for misuse. While stem cells hold great potential in medicine, they should be taken from adult tissue, not embryos, because it's unjustifiable to snuff out one potential life to try and help another. Screening people for genetic markers of disease when there is no treatment available is cruel, potentially discriminatory and will create a fatalistic attitude toward life. Each human is unique, but the concept behind genetic manipulation is that some of what makes us unique needs fixing. And cloning would create humans with confused identities and no sense of individuality. We allowed physicists in the 1940s to go ahead with their scientific discoveries on the atom. Haven't we learned our lesson already about unintended consequences?
Arguments Against This Approach
There's nothing wrong with genetically alike people, and in fact, identical twins are more genetically alike than clones. Barring genetic and stem cell research may unwittingly halt scientific progression that could lead to life-saving and life-enhancing treatments. The U.S. has a strong history of reproductive rights, where government does not interfere with people's freedom to become parents. Prospective parents, and their doctors, have almost always been the ones who decided how much risk is acceptable, not the government. It's immoral not to try and ease human suffering if we have the opportunity to do so. Banning scientific discovery is tantamount to endorsing ignorance as a matter of public policy.
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