Question: -molecular science and genetics Will cloning become a standard medical procedure?

Sive Finlay answered on 11 Nov 2013:

Hi,

It depends on what type of cloning you’re talking about.
There are 3 different types of cloning, each of which have very different applications. Gene cloning is when you produce new copies of specific DNA sequences. You can then insert those copies into other cells and genetically engineer those tissues to have specific properties. Gene cloning is already standard in many areas of research including those with medical applications.
Reproductive cloning produces copies of whole animals and it’s the technique that was used to create the famous sheep Dolly and several other cloned animals. No one has succeeded in cloning humans and I don’t think we will ever reach a stage when it’s “standard” to produce a cloned copy of yourself to harvest body parts…
Therapeutic cloning produces stem cells which can then be used to grow and repair body tissues. There are lots of ethical considerations about where these stem cells should come from and how they should be used. Therapeutic cloning has a great medical potential, particularly in areas such as organ transplant; imagine growing your own new kidney instead of waiting for a donor one to become available! There are still lots of technical and ethical issues to overcome to get to this goal but yes, at some stage, I think therapeutic cloning will become a standard medical procedure.
Sive