See, here's the thing. If we end up cloning human beings, they will end up looking like us, but they won't BE us. They'll still be human beings, just human beings that have been copied from our specific DNA.
This doesn't mean that the patterns and happenings in their lives will make them turn out exactly like us in any way. They're lives will obviously take their own path, most likely not following in our own footsteps. There are so many outward influences that are responsible for the decisions and happenings in our lives. There's no way that anyone can replicate all of these influences in order to steer our clone in the exact direction that we've already gone.
There's also the fact that clones are still human, which means that they will most likely (i.e. WILL) have souls. There isn't any part of copying DNA that takes our brain/thought process out of the picture.
Taking this into consideration, it means that cloning has the potential to be even more harmful. If clones were just docile servants with inanimate minds, only having the purpose of following what we tell them to do, the situation of cloning would pose a whole different matter.
But creating another human being, whether it be from natural or scientific methods, means you end up with a human being. It's that plain and simple.
This is part of the reason why I don't see a purpose for cloning. You can't say that having a younger copy of you would be extremely advantageous.....it'd be just like having a little brother/sister that looked exactly like you. They can't help you rob banks, they can't show up to school for you, they can't do anything that having an actual copy of you at this very moment would be like.
Cloning could present some advantages. But right now, it just seems that scientific curiosity is the leading purpose for pursuing most of the scientific studies that are taking place in this area.
[ November 12, 2003, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Combat Chuck ]
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