Human Cloning Challenges & Possibilities.
                     Human Cloning: 
Challenges & 
Possibilities
Human cloning is the creation of a genetically 
identical copy (or clone) of a human. The term 
is generally used to refer to artificial human 
cloning, which is the reproduction of human 
cells and tissue. 
Introduction
Source: Wikipedia 2
The possibility of human cloning has raised 
controversies. These ethical concerns have 
prompted several nations to pass laws 
regarding human cloning and its legality.
Possibility of human cloning
Source: Wikipedia 3
There are three different types of artificial 
cloning: gene cloning, reproductive cloning and 
therapeutic cloning.
Gene cloning produces copies of genes or 
segments of DNA. Reproductive cloning 
produces copies of whole animals. Therapeutic 
cloning produces embryonic stem cells for 
experiments aimed at creating tissues to 
replace injured or diseased tissues.
Types of artificial cloning
Source: www.genome.gov 4
Researchers routinely use cloning techniques to 
make copies of genes that they wish to study. 
The procedure consists of inserting a gene from 
one organism, often referred to as "foreign 
DNA," into the genetic material of a carrier 
called a vector.
How are genes cloned?
Source: www.genome.gov 5
Therapeutic cloning involves creating a cloned 
embryo for the sole purpose of producing 
embryonic stem cells with the same DNA as the 
donor cell. 
These stem cells can be used in experiments 
aimed at understanding disease and 
developing new treatments for disease.
What is therapeutic cloning?
Source: www.genome.gov 6
Researchers hope to use embryonic stem cells, 
which have the unique ability to generate 
virtually all types of cells in an organism, to 
grow healthy tissues in the laboratory that can 
be used replace injured or diseased tissues. 
Potential applications of therapeutic 
cloning
Source: www.genome.gov 7
Some experts are concerned about the striking 
similarities between stem cells and cancer 
cells. 
Both cell types have the ability to proliferate 
indefinitely and some studies show that after 
60 cycles of cell division, stem cells can 
accumulate mutations that could lead to 
cancer.
Potential drawbacks of therapeutic 
cloning
Source: www.genome.gov 8
Natural clones, also known as identical twins, 
occur in humans and other mammals. These 
twins are produced when a fertilized egg splits, 
creating two or more embryos that carry almost 
identical DNA.
Do clones ever occur 
naturally?
Source: www.genome.gov 9
Despite several highly publicized claims, 
human cloning still appears to be fiction. There 
currently is no solid scientific evidence that 
anyone has cloned human embryos.
Have humans been cloned?
Source: www.genome.gov 10
Reproductive and therapeutic cloning raise 
important ethical issues, especially as related 
to the potential use of these techniques in 
humans.
Reproductive cloning would present the 
potential of creating a human that is 
genetically identical to another person who has 
previously existed or who still exists. This may 
conflict with long-standing religious and 
societal values about human dignity, possibly 
infringing upon principles of individual freedom, 
identity and autonomy
Ethical issues related to 
cloning
Source: www.genome.gov 11