& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Of Human Cloning: The Question of Right

by Sarwat Chowdhury
***While referring to nature, we often tend to use such phrases as "conquering the nature" as if the nature is some fierce opponent that needs to be defeated at any cost.***
Recently, the issue of human cloning surfaced in ihe global media, especially after the G-8 leaders' call on June 22 for a ban on human cloning Clones can be defined as exact genetic duplicates of another animal, produced without sexual reproduction The Issue of cloning especially of human-cloning, has serious Implications for the humankind as a whole.
The twenty-first century Is often referred to as the age of bio-technology This technology has the potential to. and in some cases has already accomplished feats In controlling the nature, that no other human inventions could claim for. While referring to nature, we often tend to use such phrases as "tonquering the nature as if the nature Is some fierce opponent that needs to be defeated at any cost.
In 1947, long before the environmental movement came into limelight, the late British Erofessor CS Lewis published is last essay The Abolition of Man With the recent controversy over human cloning, Lewis article seems to be even more relevant today than it was 50 years ago
The main ideas of Lewis article may be summed up in the following words attempts to
control the nature beyond a certain limit can become extremely dangerous and could have dire consequences. Similar ideas are reiterated in the more familiar, Mary Shelly's fictional account of Frankenstein or the popular Spielberg movie Jurassic Park.
To return to the specific issue at hand, biotechnologists today are already able to Isolate valuable genetic materials from virtually any living organism. The events of the successful cloning of a sheep a few months ago In Scotland naturally led to the aspirations of engineering human beings.
However, do we really want the cloning of human beings? Can we even be comfortable with the knowledge that scientists at their will can create exact genetic replicas of any one of us?
Obviously, we are talking about someone" or a thousand persons" who not only look or .hi like any of us naturally Ihh u human beings, but also has the same genetic traits as well.
This completely changes the scenario because we. as ordinary citizens, no longer have control over the manipulation of these "persons" or if you will "xerox" copies of us.
Even if we were to become extremely trusting of the extraordinary powers of science and technology, and decided "human cloning" is something we accept as just and necessary. what about our future generations? Do we really have the right to decide whether our great great grandchildren will live in a world which has been significantly altered (there is no guarantee, how bizarre or wonderful the affect of human cloning will be on normal human lives) due to a decision to legalise human cloning?
Since the future generations are not here, they cannot voice their opinions today. However, if we are ingenious enough to invent human cloning, we should also be able to use our intellect to recognise the far-reaching consequences of our
actions.
Environmental-ethics writers sometimes use the term "bio-dcmocracy" which basically involves believing that all lifeforms have intrinsic value and genetic integrity, and cannot be used as mere commodities. Even from an objective scientific point of view, as we move up the ladder of animal kingdom, we find Homo sapiens at the top of the chain. From' a religious perspective. Muslims believe that human beings are the best and finest of all creations, therefore every individual deserves proper respect.
Unfortunately, various companies in the West seem to be forging ahead with the cloning of life-forms and the latest "conquest" is a calf named "Gene ". Unless the G-8 leaders' call for a ban on human cloning becomes a reality, the day may come, sooner than we expect, when human-cloning will t>e a news item in the world media.
In their arrogant rush to "conquer" nature, scientists could at times practice some humility and caution. In this particular case, such practice is extremely important as the consequences may surpass our worst possible nightmares. Otherwise such arrogance, to repeat C S Lewis' words, may cause our ultimate downfall.