Films and science fiction books have often played with the idea of reproducing exact copies of people. Today, science fiction has become science fact. We have our first real clones, though they are not human beings — yet! The gene revolution began in 1997, when British scientists from Edinburgh University produced the first cloned sheep, Dolly. Since then scientists have cloned mice, cows, dogs and pigs. Cloning animals opens exciting medical possibilities:
— Many people are in need of tissues and organs for transplantation. But it isn't easy to get such organs as, for example, heart, liver or kidneys. Cloning can solve this problem.
— Many animals are on the brink of extinction. Cloning can be used to preserve them.
— Scientists can create animals which produce more milk, meat and wool, or animals which don't catch certain diseases. This can save the lives of starving people.
Cloning is a controversial issue. Some people are ready to eat cloned fruits and vegetables, but many people are against cloning animals. They think it is morally unacceptable. The question of human cloning is even more controversial.
Suppose we cloned a man. Are we really sure he will be a man? Who will be responsible for him? Who will bring him up? Will he be happy? Will he have the same rights as we have?
What would happen if a dictator, someone like Hitler, cloned himself? Would we be able to survive?
Nevertheless, the idea of human cloning seems very exciting.
Match the parts. Write the correct number of the second part (1, 2, 3...):
The first part:
1. Some people are ready to eat cloned fruits and vegetables, but
2. Many people are in need of tissues and
3. Many animals are on the
The second part:
1) the idea of reproducing exact copies of people.
2) become science fact.
3) they are not human beings — yet!
4) Edinburgh University produced the first cloned sheep, Dolly.
5) organs for transplantation.
6) heart, liver or kidneys.
7) brink of extinction.
8) which don't catch certain diseases.
9) many people are against cloning animals.
10) even more controversial.
11) able to survive?
12) cloning seems very exciting.
