!57Cloning2

A British Geneticist cloned a sheep named Dolly this past year. It is a great scientific accomplishment. However, the Nuclear Age of supposed limitless, inexpensive power has also brought us the H-Bomb. Chemical and pharmaceutical discoveries of recent years have given us new miracle medications but also designer drugs. Advances in technology have enabled many wonderful new consumer products but we have also polluted our environment. The Information Super Highway has opened the door to the serious issues of fraud, breach of security and invasion of privacy. Cloning, with all its potential for medical achievement will undoubtedly result in attempts to develop a super race; or an “organ exchange black market;” or whatever… probably bringing us to the brink of extinction. (Can’t you just imagine multiple and/or immortal Ross Perots, Madonnas, Saddam Husseins or Linda Tripps?)

Man’s intellectual curiosity drives him to advance scientific knowledge. However, we also seem to lack the moral courage (or common sense) necessary to control the potential abuse concurrent with each new discovery.

Darwin’s Dilemma

                             Pure Scientists, God's Epigone,
                             Lure Ethicists, who'd bitch and moan;
                             Geneticists, Disaster prone,
                             Then fall right in, the Twilight Zone;
                             Creationists, chant Prayers, intone,
                             Whene’er we’ve dared, ourselves, to clone!

                             For DNA’s Life’s Cornerstone,
                             Synthetic Genomes; Pheromone,
                             This New Frontier’s Testosterone;
                             Each Protein, Building Block, Hormone,
                             Risks Consequences yet unknown;
                             A World amok, Orwellian blown!

                             At Organ Banks we’ll get a Loan,
                             From single Cell to Men full-grown;
                             Replacement Parts of Flesh and Bone,
                             Let rich Guys replicate their own;
                             Some Alter Ego's Chaperone;
                             With me, myself, we’re ne’er alone!

                             No Future’s sure, for certain known;
                             Nor can Man, e’er, his Fate postpone;
                             If we don’t change, the Game’s been thrown!
                             How many Gaffes will He condone?
                             Our Epitaph’s in Rottenstone:

We reaped, indeed, what we had sown!

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