Iris, The Prelude of Clones
Synopsis
Will Pandora's Box of Human Cloning Be Opened?
In 1997, Dr. Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland, introduced the world to "Dolly," the first cloned sheep.
By 2015, the American company VIAGEN PETS had become the first in the world to clone deceased dogs and cats, producing hundreds of cloned animals and establishing itself as the largest animal cloning company in the United States.
In May 2023, a baby with DNA from three parents was born at the Newcastle Fertility Centre in the UK, made possible through mitochondrial replacement technology.
As of 2024, we find ourselves in the age of AI, with expectations that AI will soon evolve into AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), capable of thinking like humans and even surpassing human intelligence.
AGI is anticipated to address long-standing challenges in genetic engineering and biotechnology swiftly and effectively.
But what happens when human desires come into play?
What if a beloved child, spouse, parent, or even a renowned politician or scholar passes away? With sufficient funding and stable technology, could they be cloned?
Even in the Bible, the birth of Jesus is described as asexual reproduction. According to Christian doctrine, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. This event, known as the "virgin birth," signifies a departure from the typical human reproductive process.
This belief is a foundational doctrine of Christianity, underscoring both the divinity and humanity of Jesus. While the concept of asexual reproduction differs from traditional scientific reproductive methods, it is viewed through the lens of faith as divine intervention.
Currently, biotechnology is advancing rapidly in most areas, with the exception of core somatic cell cloning. This progress is gradually resolving uncertainties and instabilities while pushing the boundaries of what is deemed divine.
A top-down approach, which entails completing surrounding technologies before developing nuclear weapons and only adding the warhead when conditions are right, is already being applied in genetic engineering and biotechnology. In the United States, violations of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act can result in penalties of up to 10 years in prison or fines exceeding $1 million.
If someone is willing to take that risk...?
The Pandora's Box of human cloning is already upon us.
