Obstetrics & Gynecology International Journal

Commentary Open Access

Human cloning and the potential effects on

evolution
Summary Volume 5 Issue 2 - 2016
Sometime in the distant future, human cloning might become a practically feasible. It is
no longer a thrilling wisdom of science fiction. The technique is available. The question
Sudipta Paul
Department of Gynecology, Salford Royal Hospital, UK
is whether it would be ethically and socially acceptable including the potential concerns
that might be associated with cloning humans. Compared to a natural embryo, which has Correspondence: Sudipta Paul, Consultant Obstetrician &
a genome resulting from the mixture of six sources, a cloned genome would essentially Gynecologist, Freelance author and researcher, Department of
have a single source. This would certainly rob off the unique characteristics a natural child Gynecology, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, UK,
possesses. Its short- and long-term effects, however, are unknown.  Cloning research on Email
human cells has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of several medical problems in
the future. There are, however, some concerns about cloning a human. Received: August 31, 2016 | Published: September 20, 2016

Even if it became feasible and safe (in relation to the health of the individual produced) in
the future, the long-term effects of bypassing fertilization, on evolution in particular, would
be interesting. 
N.B. The idea was originally conceived by the author and the article written in December
1998. The core contents have been left as these were in 1998. 

Keywords: human cloning, evolution, crossing over

Introduction is transferred to an egg from which the nucleus had been removed
(nuclear transfer).3 The result is an animal that is essentially an
Sometime in the distant future, human cloning might become identical twin of the donor animal, although the cloned offspring has
a practically feasible. It is no longer a thrilling wisdom of science a small genetic contribution – the mitochondrial genome – from the
fiction. The technique is available. The question is whether it would animal providing the enucleated egg cell.1
be ethically and socially acceptable including the potential concerns
that might be associated with cloning humans. Dolly, The sheep, was Possible roles of cloning
the first mammal to be cloned from a single adult cell, accomplished
Besides providing selective infertile couples with an identical copy
by Ian Wilmut, Keith H. S. Campbell and colleagues at the Roslin
of one of them, human cloning has widespread potentials. It could
Institute and PPL Therapeutics, near Edinburgh, Scotland.1 The
help in generating completely compatible bone marrow, skin cells,
researchers of the infertility clinic of Kyunghu University Hospital in
organs etc for transplant. It may be useful in treating genetic disorders
Seoul, South Korea have already claimed that they had fused an adult
(e.g. mitochondrial diseases), diabetes etc or generating nerve cells
human nucleus with an enucleated egg (the “Honolulu technique”)
in patients with degenerative neurological disorders. It may give
creating the first human clone that had reached the four-cell stage. The
insight into the function of mitochondrial genes in development, the
experiment was halted at that stage to avoid contravening local ethical
phenomenon of genetic imprinting and the consequences of ageing
guidelines. Concern has been expressed in the editorial of The Lancet
on genome.1,4
that in future some research group will succeed in cloning human.2
The Worldwide responses to human cloning have been mixed. It Concerns about cloning
has been banned by several countries and declared unacceptable by Some concerns have been expressed that if a cell used for cloning
the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths.2 The scientific contains accumulated mutations acquired during years of cell division
community has expressed concern that a broadly worded ban would in the individual donating the nucleus, the resulting clone may begin
block basic and applied research using cloning techniques on human life with a predisposition to ageing and age-linked diseases (e.g.
cells-research, which has the potential to answer important questions cancer).1 Dolly, the sheep, has already shown signs of premature
in cell regulation and to make therapeutic advances.1 Cloning research ageing. During the life-time several mutations in the DNA sequence
on human cells has been made legal in the UK. As all other advances occur along with epigenetic changes. They could be adaptive,
in human reproduction, human cloning has raised ethical and moral triggered by environmental changes. This could then be passed on to
issues, which possibly would subside with the passage of time as has the offspring. Concerns have been expressed about the transmission
happened before. of the impact of manipulations associated with cloning to future
generations as well.5
Methods of cloning
There are essentially two techniques. First, cells taken from Human reproduction and unique individual
an adult or an embryo are grown in a flask under conditions that The fundamental event creating a new life in humans is fertilization
encourage them to divide and increase their numbers, and to trick of an ovum by the sperm. Both the cells contain haploid (23)
them into reverting to a non-specialized state with the potential to chromosomes, which fuse at fertilization forming the diploid zygote
form an entirely new individual. Second, the nucleus of a donor cell

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Human cloning and the potential effects on evolution ©2016 Paul 2

containing 46 chromosomes. This maintains the normal diploid Conclusion

chromosome status of the human somatic cells. Both sperm and ovum
are the end result of meiosis whereby haploid gametes are formed from Cloning research on human cells has the potential to revolutionize
diploid primitive gamete cells.6 The important event of crossing over the treatment of several medical problems in the future. There are,
occurs during the four-strand stage of meiosis I (pachytene), when however, some concerns about cloning a human. Even if it became
exchange of homologous segments takes place between non-sister feasible and safe (in relation to the health of the individual produced)
chromatids of a pair of homologous chromosomes. However, each in the future, the long-term effects of bypassing fertilization, on
crossing over event involves only two of the four chromatids. Thus evolution in particular, would be interesting. While it might not be
for each recombination event there are four products, two of which apparent with cloning a handful of individuals, the question is what
are recombinant and two non-recombinant. One genetic crossover would happen in case of mass production?
is equivalent to 50 percent recombination between loci on opposite Author’s role
sides of the cross over. This fact emphasizes that a chromosome
inherited by a child from for example, the father is essentially never Sudipta Paul is the sole Author who contributed to the study
exactly the same as either of the two copies of that chromosome including participation in study design, execution, analysis,
in the father’s genome. Rather the child’s chromosome consists of manuscript drafting and critical discussion.
alternating portions of the paternal grandfather’s chromosome and
the paternal grandmother’s chromosome. If this concept is extended Acknowledgments
over the entire karyotype, the human genetic individuality would be None.
self-explanatory.6,7 During his or her lifetime the child would acquire
several genetic mutations and epigenetic changes, which would be Conflicts of interest
propagated to the offspring through the gamete.5 At fertilization two
gametes with different chromosomal characteristics would fuse to The authors declare there is no conflict of interests.
form another unique individual.
Funding
Cloning and unique individual
None.
Crossing over and fertilization are two important events, which
lead to unique characteristics of the individual with the possibility of References
acquiring characteristics from six sources, the maternal and paternal 1. Stephenson J. Threatened bans on human cloning research could hamper
grandmothers and grandfathers, and the parents. In cloned individual, advances. JAMA. 1997;277(13):1023–1026.
the genetic contribution would essentially be confined to the donor.
2. First principles in cloning. The Lancet. 1999;353(9147):81.
If an adult-cell is cloned, the result would be an identical twin of the
donor without any crossing over and mixing of genetic characteristics 3. Taylor R. Super humans. New Scientist. 1998;160(2157):25–29.
of the parents of the donor. If nuclear transfer is used, there would be
4. Kassirer JP, Rosenthal NA. Should human cloning research be off
some genetic contribution from the mitochondria of the recipient cell limits? The New Eng J Med. 1998;338:905–906.
besides the contribution from the donor nucleus. But the effect of this
is yet unknown. However, in both circumstances the nuclear genetic 5. Vines G. Hidden inheritance. New Scientist. 1998;160(2162):26–30.
contribution would essentially be confined to the donor genome. 6. Thompson MW, McInnes RR, Willard HF. Chromosomal Basis of
Compared to a natural embryo, which has a genome resulting from Heredity. In:Thompson & Thompson Genetics in Medicine, (5th edn).
the mixture of six sources, a cloned genome would essentially have WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia; 1991:13–30.
a single source. This would certainly rob off the child of the unique
7. Thompson MW, McInnes RR, Willard HF. The Human Gene Map:Gene
characteristics, a natural child possesses. Its short- and long-term Mapping and Lineage Analysis. In:Thompson & Thompson Genetics in
effects, however, are unknown. Medicine, (5th edn) WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia; 1991:167–
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Citation: Paul S. Human cloning and the potential effects on evolution. Obstet Gynecol Int J. 2015;5(2):11‒12. DOI: 10.15406/ogij.2016.05.00151