I see nothing unethical in animal cloning itself. It is likely the future of food production, as it could lead to the production of only high quality dairy products and meat. It seems no less ethical than our normal raising and killing of animals for food.

However, were we to harvest a functional human clone for its organs, then it would be a different story.

tgags123 :

They are here for our benefit. No question about it. And we are here for their benefit. I don't mean to say that they are meaningless. They're not. But they do not have any sort of rights.

Crawldragon : Even a clone is not a 100% perfect copy (not with the technology and knowledge that we have, anyway). The pages I've read say that clones are between 96% and 98% similar to their host, so I would imagine that 94% is a figure that's not completely out of the ball park. And minor genetic mutations do exist in the cloning process, that's why scientists will often use the harvested DNA to fertilize hundreds of embryos and often times, less than 10% of those embryos will survive. It's a very inefficient process, however, we're getting better and better at this as time goes on. As we get better at this, I would imagine that we will intentionally introduce genetic mutations to make livestock animals more disease-resistant, produce greater offspring yields, etc... but of course, this will be mostly a trial and error process. ;-)

tornadocam : Alterations in DNA do not necessarily mean alterations in chromosome count. It takes a very significant genetic mutation, one that does not happen within the cloning process, for there to be a modification in the chromosome count. Regular reproduction has far greater chance for error than the cloning process, and that's why abnormal chromosomal conditions such as Down Syndrome exist. Cloned animals aren't going to be radioactive, or have six legs instead of four. They're perfectly safe.

It depends to what end the cloning of the animal will be done.

If used for food, I would only be okay with it IF they labeled meat that was made with cloned animals. Just like the GMOs, consumers have a right to know what's been done to goods they may purchase.

My biggest concern may be if people start cloning, say, their dead or dying pets. It... really begins to cross the line there as it begs the question of if it really is the same pet anymore... Also, it creeps me out.

Mind, science has not come far enough for this level of cloning, but I think if it will benefit us more, then it's okay. Just not to go crazy with it, or past animals; human cloning is a huge can of worms!

ruesen :
Cloning of human organs is potentially brilliant.
Cloning of sentient humans is a potential nightmare.

Why wouldn't it be? If the cost is cheap, we could end world hunger, and cloning could also get rid of the painful (for the family) organ donor status. So no cloning isn't unethical in my eyes at least, although I'm insane according to my dresser .

It depends on what it is for, if it is for stuff like having extra food, then I don't have a problem with it. Even still though, I wouldn't use it as a first resort. 

For stuff like cloning humans though, that is a big no-no, and that would only lead to trouble, cloning organs is fine though since it is actually useful. 


Overall though, I am not really in favor of cloning anything unless it is absolutely necessary, and even then, its uses should be limited, so cloning animals and humans just for the heck of it is out of the question.