PHL 116 Bioethics Mod 6 Cloning and Philosophical Conversation Skills

cloning

asexually producing a biological organism that is virtually genetically identical to another

reproductive cloning

make an new organism

therapeutic cloning

use genetic tissue for research/treatment purposes (ex: creation of embryonic stem cells)

stem cells

undifferentiated cells that have the potential to differentiate/develop into many different types of cells in the body

somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) Cloning 

places nucleus from the cell with desired genetics into a different egg cell; egg cell divides into blastocysts with the new DNA

Dolly the Sheep (1996-2003)

first mammal to be cloned; univ. of edinburgh. scotland by Sir Ian Wilmut; seems that the cloning did not cause early arthritis

national bioethics advisory commission

started by Pres. Clinton in 1996

President’s council on bioethics

started by Pres. Bush in 2001

Chance the Bull (2000)

cloned in 2000; Second Chance was similar in most ways but turned out to be aggressive

Zhong Zhong the monkey (2018)

the first primate to be cloned

Moral foundations for cloning

care, authority, liberty

moral foundations against cloning

sanctity, loyalty, authority

Leon Kass

author of “The Wisdom of Repugnance;” physician and bioethicist; led bush’s council on bioethics

argues: human cloning is unethical in itself and dangerous in its likely consequences; to ban reproductive and therapeutic cloning

Human embryos and stem cells

human embryos can be used to create embryonic stem cells, which are then used in therapies such as regenerating tissues in patients

Dickey-Wicker Amendment (1996)

prevents federal funding of research that creates or destroys human embryos

funding only allowed for existing lines of stem cells

reproductive cloning legality

no federal ban, but some states have bans

Wisdom of repugnance?

in crucial cases, repugnance is the emotional expression of deep wisdom, beyond reason’s power to fully articulate it

Kass asks, “can anyone really give an argument fully adequate to the horror which is father-daught incest, having sex with animals, mutilating a corpse, or eating human flesh?”

Kass’s cloning concerns

health risks to clone, without consent

disrupts the clone’s identity and individuality

degreading b/c it treats reproduction as human engineering (against sanctity)

eugenics

arranging reproduction in human population to increase the occurrence of heritable characteristics as desirable

Virginia’s 1924 Eugenical Sterilization Act

more than 7,000 virginians were sterilized under the law which remained until 1979.

nationwide, 65,000 sterilizations were conducted nationwide

Dr. He Jiankui on Lulu and Nana

gene edited two twin girls who were then born and are living healthily

ethical concerns of designer babies

didn’t get IRB approval, poor informed consent, not based on animal models, enhanced rather than treated a disease

Kass’s slope argument

where does full reproductive freedom take us? It justifies treating human embryos as mere objects (sanctity)

And so, justifies: genetic manipulation, designer babies, ectogenesis, eugenics

Gregory Pence

author of “please dont criminalize human cloning;” philosopher and bioethicist at UAB

argues: there is no basis for the national bioethics advisory commission or the federal govt to tell married couples when and how to have children; avoid alarmism, including the pejorative term “clone” (rather, use “delayed twin”).

Pence on Kass’s widespread repugnance argument

it is just the ad populum fallacy, or an appeal to majority

Why clone humans? presumptive case in favor

genetic connection with child: if 50% genetic connection is good, why not 99%?

another form of assisted reproductions: suppose a couple carries a genetic disease, this allows them to have a child “within the family” without using a donor; couple with bad gametes could each have a genetic connection to one of two children

Objection to Pence 1: Dignity; lack of individuality, attempts to engineer life; flouts sanctity

Pence’s reply:

reductionism to genes is false

just a delayed twin (and twins aren’t morally problematic)

Objection to Pence 2: Harm; why risk harm, physical or mental? 

Pence’s reply:

double standard: sexual reproduction has risks too, yet we allow it on the grounds of procreative freedom

treat these like cases alike: cloning humans is ethical if risks are similar

What is philosophy good for?

transferable soft skills: critical thinking and analysis (justify beliefs, evaluate arguments), effective communication (negotiation, active listening, persuasion)

arguments/debates can be for

combat and competition or collaboration and curious inquiry

4 conversation poisons

criticism

contempt

defensiveness

stonewalling

4 conversation antidotes

gentle start up

build culture of appreciation

take responsibility

physiological self-soothing