Gene Cloning: Saving one's life by Killing one's life

(The Quill) — Did you know that animals are well-known for being comparable to humans? Above all the species however, the 'Rhesus monkey' is most similar physiologically to humans. By looking at the data, scientists figured that the rhesus monkey is useful for experimental use in the development of new drugs and so on. However, there exists an ethical problem with testing on animals that many people frown upon. This is because it largely deviates from people's universal ethical principles. To solve this problem, the medical profession came up with a solution: 'animal cloning.'

Animal cloning still has a very small success rate, but if it develops more successfully, it will have a big impact on the medical community. The previously mentioned 'Rhesus monkey’ experiment in China is a recent successful animal cloning. Animal cloning, has succeeded and is still alive for two years.

How? 

To briefly introduce the method, it is as follows.  

1. It extracts my cells from embryos cloned from skin cells. 

2. Prepare an embryo with my cells removed. 

3. The extracted endocyte is implanted into the embryo. 

 4. Transplant the embryo into a surrogate monkey.  

5. The surrogate mother gives birth to a cloned monkey that is almost identical to a skin cell donor monkey.   

Of the 113 embryos tested by Chinese researchers, 11 were transplanted, and one survived, resulting in the birth of the current cloned monkey, ‘Retro’.

Chinese Academy of Sciences Neuroscience Laboratory

This is because it is very rare that mistakes occur in the reprogramming process itself so most adult cells become embryos, leading to actual childbirth. Even if they are born, mammals do not survive properly, with only 1-3% of healthy individuals born. 

 A spokesperson for the RSPCA said, "This study cannot be applied immediately. Although it is expected that patients will benefit from this experiment, it will take more than a few years for practical application, and more animal models will be needed to develop and develop these technologies." 

 Various news and video media say that such gene cloning enables animal testing and will eventually save many lives. On the other hand, there is strong opposition. They argue that it is ethically wrong to use live animals in experiments with  very low success rate.  

Neuralink, a neuroscience startup founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is also conducting several trials with rhesus monkeys. Neuralink released a video of the monkey, which had an artificial intelligence microchip implanted in its brain, playing the video game "Pong" in April 2021. However, likewise, in February 2022, it was investigated for alleged animal cruelty reported by the Committee of Responsible Physicians (PCRM).

The focus of this controversy should be on how to achieve the objectives of gene cloning, and animal testing, and how to continue to check the processes to make sure it is not ethically contradicted.