by:	DOBREVA Myriana ANDRONIC Liviu CORAI Victoria KHALIFAZADEL Chingiz CHELEA Rodica GADJINSKIY Farid

INTRODUCTION
"To be or not to be? That is the question" - This quotation, taken from "Hamlet", probably the most popular of Shakespeare's work, became a symbol of a new age. It was a time when people had to start thinking about the valuable things in their life, to make important decisions, to make the greatest steps in the development of human race.
������� During the last century our life has changed in so many ways, hopefully for the better. With the discovery of the electricity, telephone, TV and of course the computer our life slowly became what it is now. But no one can deny that the popularisation of all these things was even more difficult than their invention. People easily get used to their way of life and even if it's not the best, they just live it cause they are afraid that the change can destroy their happiness.
������� Nowadays, when we are in the beginning of the 21st century, every day we meet something new - our cars, homes, computers, clothes, everything is changing very fast and we are not impressed by this. But when it comes to something completely new we are again like medieval people - ready to kill the one who is bringing new ideas. Now we have to face the question - To clone or not to clone? Maybe in a few years, for the next generation this will sound like "To use the telephone or not?", but maybe it will be like "To start the nuclear bomb or not?". We are afraid that our wrong decision today may cause a tragedy for our children. We are so scared that we don't even talk about this problem. We are trying to leave things more naturally so that if someone, who is experimenting with cloning makes a mistake, we can just say: "Oh, you stupid man, it's your fault! We are against this all. We are not responsible." The problem is that no matter if one, ten or six billion people are responsible if a catastrophe occurs the whole human kind will have to suffer.
������� On the other hand, cloning offers so many opportunities that could make our life easier. If we help the development of this new science we may find the solutions for so many problems, like all kinds of diseases considered incurable now or solve hunger problems. But we cannot just open a door and read our future and take the right way. What we can do is to first read our history because it shows the right and wrong decisions and how they affected our life. We also need to look around and consider all the facts, all kinds of information and really try to make a choice. That choice should not be for the sake of our boss, teacher, mother and neighbour but for the future of our children, for those who are going to live on in our place and continue our development. Also we have to think of ourselves not egotistically but as an endangered species who are slowly destroying their lives. If we try to make the life better for ourselves it will be better for the others also, because we all have the same problems.

SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION
Almost everyone has met with the word cloning at least once in his or her life, but we're not sure that everyone exactly understands the meaning of that word. Therefore we would like to give, as much exact definition of that word as it is possible. To use a specific definition cloning, also called "somatic cell nuclear transfer". We define this expression as the production of genetically identical organisms via somatic cell (a cell from any part of the body which has 23 pairs of chromosomes) of an existing organism is transferred into oocyte (an eggcell), from which the nucleus has been removed. In other words cloning is the method to produce a baby that has the same genes as its parent. We would like to give a rough example of how the cloning process is being taken: you take an egg and remove its nucleus, which contains the DNA/genes. Then, you take the DNA from an adult cell and insert it into the egg, either by fusing the adult cell with the enucliated (or in other words fully formulated) egg cell, or by sophisticated nuclear transfer. This egg is stimulated by a tiny electrical current to begin development. The embryo is then transferred from a lab to the host uterus to complete the development of the new individual. However, this new individual is not an exact duplicate of the donor since a small genetic contribution is made by the mitochondrial DNA of the host cell.
������� A couple of years ago human cloning was an idea of authors of science fiction. In the past few years human cloning has become a highly debated issue. Both sides of the issue have many reasons to clone or not to clone. Genetic research was first explored by Hans Spemann in the 1920's, because nuclear transfer is the technique currently used to clone adult animals.
������� But it was not until the 27th of February 1997 that there was a big turning point in the history of all mankind with the announcement that English scientists had cloned a sheep named Dolly. Promptly following the news, researchers in Oregon on March 1 1997 announced that a Rhusus monkey had been cloned. The reality of animal cloning stares us the face and human cloning is just around the corner.
������� In February 1997, when scientists at Roslin Institute in Scotland were able to clone a lamb, named Dolly, a new possibility was introduced. Before this, cloning was thought to be impossible but now there is a proof that the technology and the knowledge to clone exist. A big question began to rise: are humans next? Is it possible to clone a human being? There are many benefits and disadvantages to cloning and its technology. Here are some main benefits of human cloning: the 1st is the possibility that through cloning technology we will learn to renew activity of damaged cells by growing new cells, growing new tissue. The 2nd is to create human clones to act as organ donors, and the 3rd benefit is studying cell differentiation at the same time as cloning is studied and developed.
������� Nowadays we know only 2 possible ways to clone. Splitting off a cell from an embryo when sperm fertilizes the egg it then starts dividing. It divides into an 8-cell embryo and those 8 cells are separated and are implanted into the uteri of 8 separate mothers, thus 8 clones are born. Next way is the famous Roslin technique, the one used to create Dolly.
������� One of the main achievements in cloning science is the first Cloned Human Embryo. It has been reported by ACT (Advanced Cell Technologies) that a successful cloning of a human embryo by removing the DNA from the skin of a man's leg and inserting it into a cow's egg, which previously had its nucleus removed.
������� Although scientists cloned sheep, monkey and some other animals successfully new research suggests that even apparently normal clones may have a change of gene expression that are not easily detected in the animal clone. To that scientists say cloning techniques are still too underdeveloped to try it on humans. Experience with animals has shown that most clone pregnancies fail, take for example Dolly-1 out of 277.

POSITIVE POINTS
We can't stop the world from developing continuously. Evolution represents a positive value, because it's a tendency of creating new things, better things. Science is discovering every day more things, things that were kept in secret by nature. So now we know more than we could have imagined and it's happening because we have been allowed by some supernatural force to discover these things. Cloning is one of those issues that is discussed as something unnatural. People are afraid of not knowing the truth. That is why they avoid discussing it and that's why it's easier to say that it's "bad" to clone rather than say "good" and explain why. There are many ways in which cloning is expected to benefit mankind. Some scientists suggest that it may someday be possible to reverse the ageing process because of what we learn from cloning. Doctors could learn how to use their knowledge of cloning and reverse heart attacks. They say that the possibility to treat heart attack victims by cloning their healthy heart cells and injecting them into the areas of the heart that have been damaged exists. Heart disease is in many countries the number one killer of the population.
������� There has been a break through with human stem cells. Stem cells can be grown to produce organs or tissues to repair or replace damaged ones. Skin for burn victims, brain cells for brain damage, spinal card cells, hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys could be produced. The life of millions of people could be saved if it will be possible to combine the cloning technology with the one of growing new cells. This way doctors could set aside tissue for suffering people that will be free of rejection by their immune systems. Diseases like diabetes, Parkinson`s syndrome and other problems may be made curable if human cloning is not banned by the law. Infertile people are always discriminated against. Men are made to feel like they aren't "real men" and women are made to feel like barren vessels. The current options for infertile couples are expensive and heart-breaking. One estimate is that current infertility treatments are less than 10% successful. Couples go through physically and emotionally painful procedures for a small chance of having children. Human cloning could make it possible for many more infertile couples to have kids then ever before possible.
������� Because of human cloning and its renovating technology the era of silicone breast implants and all kinds of other cosmetic procedures that may cause immune diseases should soon be over. Instead of using materials foreign to the body, doctors will have the power to create connective tissue that matches the patient tissues exactly. Victims of terrible accidents that deform the face should now be able to repair their features with safer technology. Limbs for amputees may be able to be regenerated. Those women at high risk for syndrome can avoid that risk by cloning. If human cloning is possible now with animal cloning there are no problems. The endangered species could be living forever. Animals and plants should be cloned for medical terms, for different kinds of precious substances, which will be used for creating medicines.
������� It was God's decision to create us the way we are, so it's also His decision to give us power to create ourselves in a new way as we want. Anyway we have the right in our hands and we are not wrong if we use it. At least two religious, the Religion and the Summum Religion, believe in cloning as one of their tenets.
������� Cloning may be used also like a method to get more hair on a balding scalp. For example doctors could get more hair from a few sample hair from the patient's head, grow them and then transplant the grafts where there is need for them. This way we'll eliminate the need to do an incision in the scalp for donor hair and will give the patient more hair.
������� Cloning represents for those who are sick and desperate a way to get better. Lots of people in the world need help from modern technologies, and they are going to call for it. Cloning is going to be the ultimate cure.
������� The industrial revolution and the Internet revolution made many countries rich. Some say that biotechnology will lead the next great revolution. The countries that are trying to work on discovering will get the reward and those who don't hurry will fall behind. And it is going to be a big time for them to wake up if they don't want to renew, just enjoying the past.
������� Scientists suppose that there might exist a perfect understanding between a clone and it's DNA parent. Lonely people dream about having a friend with whom they could have a special relationship. The cloned person will be like psychically connected to the first individual. Some twins describe their twin relationship as the most wonderful and meaningful than any other in their life. Who wouldn't like to have a perfect soul-mate always around?
������� Discrimination is one of the characteristics of our society. In front of God we all are equal, so even a gay couple shouldn't be deprived of the right to have a child. Gay couples go through much, not to mention the controversy, when they decide that it's time for them to have a child. People question their right to bring a child to this world that isn't related to them into a lifestyle that falls below our societies' views of normal. But it is possible, and it should be considered as normal as is the other way of conceiving. The child that will be from a gay couple will be truly their own, thanks to cloning.
������� If we had some information about ourselves, perhaps we could sooner or later discover who we really are. A clone would have access to a tremendous amount of information about his or her parent that could greatly help in understanding one's psyche and physical attributes. All the information could provide a better sense of identity.
������� There are some people who just can't find the right way to the desired happiness. For some the goal in life is a family. Interestingly cloning allows you to choose the perfect parents for your clone.
������� Human cloning essentially means taking a human being's DNA and reversing it's age back to zero. Dr. Richard Seed, one of cloning proponents, hopes that cloning will help us understand how to reverse DNA back to age of 20 or whatever age we want to be. Cloning will be a huge step toward the eternal youth.
������� Everyone believes in freedom, so the whole society does. And freedom sometimes means to have tolerance for the others and their beliefs. Some people believe in destiny, others don't, some people believe in one religion, the others-in another. Each of us is an individual, because we all are different. But in the free world in which we are living, we know that we have to tolerate some points of view that we don't agree on, so that we all may be free. That is a reason for what human cloning should be allowed.
������� Some people have suffered accidents during their lifetime. In this very moment there's a girl out there who needs a kidney, a burn victim maybe, a child born with deformities, a man who needs a liver, an infertile woman because of cancer, and a father who lost his only son. All these people would want science to proceed. Human cloning is now possible. The next thing scientists do will be to transfer all the experiences from one lifetime and transfer them to your clone. It seems impossible�Human cloning was once thought to be impossible too�
������� Is cloning the meaningful of life? For some of us, existence is the pursuit of knowledge. Why do we live? What's the universe? Why do we fall in love? Imagine everything you barned in one life and teaching it to your DNA clone during its next life. Wouldn't this be a miracle?!�. so why don't we think seriously on who we are and where are we going to�.

NEGATIVE POINTS
After all the examples from above you would really believe that cloning, and especially human cloning, is the right thing to do. But, there is a dark side of the coin.
������� From the very beginning, after Dolly was created, politicians from all over the world tried to make laws that would prevent anything drastic to happen. And they had reasons to do that.
������� There are two main points that support the opinion shouldn't be allowed: technology and ethics.
������� First of all human cloning would deny the basic principle of natural human reproduction. For millions of years it was needed a female and a male for creating a new generation, but with cloning there is no need of a second person - everything may be done by a single one.
������� Anyway, nowadays the technology used is underdeveloped and the fertility rate is very low. For creating a single successful clone there will be needed more than 100 attempts (in Dolly's case - 277). This means that each and every human embryo that has slight defects has to be destroyed. With each destroyed embryo we kill a human being, and thus we refuse the most fundamental of human rights - the right to life. If we assume that from several attempts a clone was created, we cannot state that the clone is normal. It may have some genetic problems such as mutations that could occur at the first generation, but also at the second and third. This may also imply the change of the gene pool. At the same time copying all the genes from other persons could lead to the loss of genetic variation and the natural process gene selection would be bypassed and evolution would be impaired. Through cloning we could lose our personality because of the genetic predisposition. Anyway, at the moment, we have no idea what could be the long time genetic effects and their consequences. In cloning experiments lots of abnormalities are noticed. Dolly is not an exception. Dr. Ian Wilmut, the creator of Dolly, reported that the sheep has slightly stunted telomeres. Telomeres are DNA strands at each end of a cell's DNA that become shorter with each cell division. There has been speculation that telomeres are a sort of clock that tells cells it's time to stop dividing and die, but reality has not proven to be so simple. The researchers reported that Dolly's telomeres were 20 % shorter that those of sheep who are not clones. Even Dr. Ian Wilmut has stated that he is against human cloning (mainly because of these reasons).
������� If we assume that the needed technology for successful and unmistakable cloning will be invented, then we are confronting with even bigger problems: the moral implications and the misuse of cloning possibilities. The church, especially the Catholics, is totally against human cloning saying that it is immoral and unethical. It is possible, and highly probable, that clones could be made just for organ transplants. This will refuse a human being the right to decide what to do with his/her body, and it would be against the code of ethics of a doctor to harm a clone (e.g. for organ transplants). In the case of an existing ban, the human cloning with this purpose is going to be made in hidden labs that are found even now. We don't know what is the future of secret lab clones. They might be used for an organ transplant and then be killed. A "black market" of fetuses may arise from desirable donors that will want to be able to clone themselves. We don't know what would be the public opinion concerning cloned-human beings. Clones could be treated as second-class citizens. Mothers could treat their cloned baby in a different way. Clones may be created just for a cheap work force. Imagine thousands of cloned-people which do not have the right to choose the way of life they would like. It means the possible return of slavery. It is still not clear the impact of psychological harm on the family and society, including violations of autonomy and privacy introduced by cloning, as well as the unknown physical damages.
������� We just cannot imagine the harms that will come from cloning.

CONCLUSION
Tic-tac, tic-tac. The clock is working. The alarm is on. Wake up! Open your eyes! Now the time to decide has come, the time for the great choice. We presented you information from the latest scientific researches. We have the positive statements mostly concerning the possible medical revolution that could make our life many times easier. On the other hand, we have the negative points, influenced by the moral, God and fear of possible mistakes and misuses. All the cards are on the table. There's no time to stay and wait. To clone or not to clone? Now that is the question!

Liviu's OSI 2001 Photo Gallery