Cloning In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
In the novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley suggests that when science is not used responsibly by man, it can become out of control. Mary Shelley warns readers of the dangers that come with the advancement of technology and the potential risks that emerge when science is raised godlike standards. Today, science and technology are advancing much more rapidly than is our wisdom to use them properly. Due to this, science and technology are becoming the equivalent of modern day ‘monsters’. Reproductive cloning on humans is a prominent scientific and technological advancement that poses issues regarding human control and manipulation over the natural world and morality. With these advancements come risks. The main risk being that reproductive
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(Aurelia et al. 3). In other words, cloning is a method of producing a child who has exactly the same genes or parent. (Aurelia et al. 3). The most common cloning technique is called Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) which involves putting the nucleus of a body cell into an egg from which the nucleus has been removed. This produces a clonal embryo, which is triggered to begin developing with chemicals or electricity. Placing this cloned embryo into the uterus of a female animal and bringing it to term creates a clone, with genes identical to those of the animal from which the original body cell was taken ("About Reproductive Cloning"). In Frankenstein, electricity is the tool which creates life and eventually creates “the monster”. Earlier medical experiments, including Galvanism, lead Victor Frankenstein to fantasize about the possibilities of creating life using the power of electricity and the body of a once living man. Mary Shelley seemed to be predicting into the future where, a modern day Victor Frankenstein would succeed in reanimating the lifeless or more inimical to our society: synthetically creating life. In fact, scientists have already cloned an animal. The first cloned mammal, named Dolly the sheep, died at the age of 6 years. The death of the first cloned mammal was followed by a lively debate related issues / ethical aspects of cloning, some of which continue the debate today. Only 1% of animal cloning made so far have had a positive result, but most of them have suffered serious disorders. The conclusion of experts is that the current level of technology, human cloning is very dangerous (Aurelia et al. 1) Many scientists even believe that reproductive cloning can never be made
(Aurelia et al. 3). In other words, cloning is a method of producing a child who has exactly the same genes or parent. (Aurelia et al. 3). The most common cloning technique is called Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) which involves putting the nucleus of a body cell into an egg from which the nucleus has been removed. This produces a clonal embryo, which is triggered to begin developing with chemicals or electricity. Placing this cloned embryo into the uterus of a female animal and bringing it to term creates a clone, with genes identical to those of the animal from which the original body cell was taken ("About Reproductive Cloning"). In Frankenstein, electricity is the tool which creates life and eventually creates “the monster”. Earlier medical experiments, including Galvanism, lead Victor Frankenstein to fantasize about the possibilities of creating life using the power of electricity and the body of a once living man. Mary Shelley seemed to be predicting into the future where, a modern day Victor Frankenstein would succeed in reanimating the lifeless or more inimical to our society: synthetically creating life. In fact, scientists have already cloned an animal. The first cloned mammal, named Dolly the sheep, died at the age of 6 years. The death of the first cloned mammal was followed by a lively debate related issues / ethical aspects of cloning, some of which continue the debate today. Only 1% of animal cloning made so far have had a positive result, but most of them have suffered serious disorders. The conclusion of experts is that the current level of technology, human cloning is very dangerous (Aurelia et al. 1) Many scientists even believe that reproductive cloning can never be made