Dolly made headline news around the world when she was born in 1996. From newspapers, to television, and radio, Dolly fascinated young and old alike as she offered proof that successful cloning of animals can take place.
Cloning Information
Named after Dolly Parton, Dolly was created by Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. Although her creation was seen by many as the scientific break through of the decade, to Wilmut and Campbell, her real significance "is in the fact that Dolly's creation laid the groundwork for making the best use of transgenic animals-those expressing a specific gene from another species."
Cloning Ethics
Of course the subject of cloning does bring up ethical questions such as the quality and longevity of life. Sheep can normally live up to eleven or twelve years of age. In Dolly's case, she had to be euthanized at the age of six due to advanced lung disease and arthritis.
Dolly did lead the way, though, to the cloning of other mammals including cows, goats, mice, pigs, and even horses. Of course, one has to wonder, what of human cloning? Are there secret experiments taking place in hidden laboratories involving the possible cloning of people? If human cloning was possible, could there be a Black Market explosion?
Those opposed to cloning by any means argue that it goes against nature and even God, Himself. Of course, there's always been a division between science and religion. Just think of the debate between creation and evolution.
Cloning Endangered Species
Proponents of cloning see the process as a way to help save endangered species. What if one could save the giant panda or a species of endangered dolphins? The question has even arisen about cloning extinct animals.
For anyone who's seen Jurassic Park, the dinosaurs were able to be created through the cloning process. Could this even be possible? With the advancements in science, one cannot dismiss the possibility. However, don't expect to find a brontosaurus in the local zoo anytime soon.
Most likely, Dolly never knew just how special she was. Amongst the media frenzy, she was successful in becoming a mom and gave birth on two occasions to a total of four lambs. Although her life was cut short, Dolly was a scientific marvel which opened the doors to scientists for a future in cloning. As the cloning debates continue, scientists keep moving ahead, finding more and more benefits of cloning.
Readers may also enjoy Conservation and Saving Endangered Species.
Sources:
Janis Masyk-Jackson - I'm here to seek out the truth about some of life's mysteries. There is nothing new about New Age beliefs. These are beliefs that have ...
Join the Conversation