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Cloning Ethics Debate Worksheet

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Cloning Ethics Debate Worksheet

Read the case file and evidence, then weigh the benefits and risks of animal cloning. Use evidence to prepare a reasoned recommendation. You may disagree with others, but explain your reasoning respectfully.

Case file: the last few bilbies

A wildlife centre in Australia cares for a small population of greater bilbies. A disease outbreak has left only a few breeding adults, and the population has little genetic diversity. Researchers propose using cells preserved from a bilby that died several years ago to try reproductive cloning. In reproductive cloning, the nucleus from a body cell is placed into an egg cell whose nucleus has been removed. The resulting embryo may be carried by a surrogate. The clone would have almost the same nuclear DNA as the cell donor, but it would not be the same individual: its experiences, development and some biological influences would differ. Therapeutic cloning aims to produce cells or tissues for research or possible treatment, not a whole organism. The proposal is uncertain. Cloning attempts in mammals often fail, and pregnancy or birth may cause suffering. A clone would still need suitable habitat, protection from threats and other bilbies. Alternatives include protecting habitat, reducing disease, connecting populations and carefully managed breeding. Some people argue cloning could preserve valuable genes or support research; others worry it could divert money from proven conservation work or encourage treating animals as copies. The centre must decide whether to fund a small research trial, focus only on established conservation methods, or combine both approaches with strict limits.

Evidence and ethical reasoning

Use details from the case file. Ethical decisions can involve competing values; there is not always one universally agreed answer.

1.In your own words, distinguish reproductive cloning from therapeutic cloning. Which type is proposed in the bilby case?

2.Which statement about a clone is best supported by the case file?

It would be exactly the same individual as the cell donor.
It would have almost the same nuclear DNA as the donor, but its life and development would be different.
It would inherit no DNA from the donor.
It would automatically restore genetic diversity to the whole population.

3.Identify two uncertainties or risks in the proposed cloning trial. For each, explain who or what could be affected.

4.Match each proposal to the ethical value it most directly supports. Use each value once.

Protecting habitat and reducing threats
Setting a strict limit on trials that may harm animals
Checking whether scarce funds could achieve more through other methods

Responsible use of resources
Long-term ecosystem protection
Animal welfare

5.True or false: Producing a clone by itself would guarantee that the bilby population survives. Give one reason for your answer.

TrueFalse

6.Complete the sentence: Bioethics is the study of questions raised by biology and medicine. Then name one bioethical question raised by the bilby proposal.

7.Give one evidence-based argument in favour of a carefully limited cloning trial and one evidence-based argument against it. Refer to details in the case file.

8.Imagine the centre has a fixed conservation budget. State one question decision-makers should ask before spending money on cloning, and explain why it matters.

9.Write a recommendation to the wildlife centre: fund a limited trial, reject cloning and use established methods, or combine a tightly controlled trial with established methods. Support your recommendation with two reasons and address one concern or limitation.