Retorts

When a Clone is not a Clone

In reference to the so-called cloning of Dolly (the sheep): to clone is to produce an "exact" replica; this cannot ever be done under any circumstances. Natural replicas, such as identical twins, from the same fertilised egg, are the closest to a clone and even they are not true "clones".

To "marry" a more or less differentiated cell with an egg cell without its nucleus, by fusing, is to unite two very different cytoplasms, which will produce a new cytoplasmic environment, which is a dynamically complex combination of the two. The cell is not ruled exclusively by the nucleic material -- its function is a very complex interaction between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Also the egg cytoplasm contains its own mitochondrial DNA and other DNAs not yet characterised, its function together with the nuclear DNA, is absolutely vital for the amazingly complex events underlying the proper guidance of embryonic development and since it is unique, it will generate an embryo and fetus different from the original egg cytoplasm belonging to the individual being replicated.

This combination of one cell with the cytoplasm of another will produce an individual different from the original donor cell. Also the uterus and the complex conditions in it which were experienced by the individual from which the donor cell is taken will certainly be different from those to be experienced by the developing replica.

Therefore it is impossible to actually "clone" an adult or even an infant human. Therefore all the questions about the ethical implications of "cloning" are moot. I believe that if the histocompatibily complex of the sheep from which the donor cell was taken and that of the sheep which is supposed to be the clone are compared, they will be found to be different, because both sheep are not truly identical in every aspect. The same will happen with human mammals -- the more deeply they will examine both so-called "clones" the more differences they will find.

The complexity and subtlety of functions of living systems is vastly greater than what we have learned so far. As an addendum, after birth every human is subject to quite unique physical and psychological conditions and complex simultaneous combinations and mixtures of both; this cannot be repeated exactly.

Alfred Handler