What are the dangers of animal cloning?
I have to confess, I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy — which you kind of have to be with all the lack of success that leads up to any success in the lab. I’m a veterinarian committed to animal health. If cloning produced unhealthy animals, that would be a cause for concern. Theoretically, cloning might narrow the gene pool if you were using it to do so. In reality, though, cloning gives us the opportunity to expand the gene pool. Take, for example, endangered species…you could collect cells from individuals and preserve that gene set forever. Also, take superior athletes that are neutered: stallions at Olympic-type horse events. Here, you end up with mature, world-class champions who are not able to reproduce. Cloning enables you to make a genetic copy of that champion, and the clone could then pass on the genes. Cloning could allow us to make unwise decisions, but properly used, it could enable us to expand and preserve the gene pool of unique animals.
