2 • BENNETT BANNER •MARCH 21, 1997 OPINION • OPINION • OPINION • OPINION • OPINION To clone or not to clone, what is the question? At the time of the first cloning in 1952 — the making of frogs from tadpole cells — it was inconceivable and somewhat frightening to comprehend that someday hmnans may also be cloned. Paquita Herring After Keith Campbell, a cell biologist at the Roslin Institute in Scotland, cloned a sheep (named after country vocalist Dolly Parton), from an adult mammary cell, in February 1995 he didn't think about the major implications cloning may have on the world. Let's examine some of the benefits of human cloning . For one, we may be able design our ovwi children. Lesbians couples would have the means of producing children without going to the sperm banks. Hollywood producers and directors could replicate their best actresses. Basketball and football teams could reproduce their best players. If we begin cloning humans, America's religious communities would certainly play a large role. Humans were made and designed by God and that is who it should be left up to design people. I am worried about the long-term implications behind cloning. Some people would make what they think are the perfect people. Who would be the perfect people? Would they have blond hair and blue eyes...? Let's not forget the 1978 the fihn, "The Boys From Brazil" in which Hitler was cloned. The cover of the March 10 issue "Newsweek" asks "Can we clone humans?" Before we answer that question, maybe the scientific community needs to consider the negative effects that cloning may have and then ask the more relevant question: Should we clone humans? The opinion expressed in this column is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Bennett Banner staff. Student Opinion Poll: THE BENNETT BANNER The Newspaper produced by the Phenomenal Women of Bennett College Paquita Herring EDITOR Aleshia Barrett BRIEFINGS & KUDOS Luree Benjamin- CIRCULATION Camisha Gentry- PHOTOGRAPHER Shamilah Harris GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Brandy Jones GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Annisteen Pack-Lovelace—-GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Kenya Samuels BOOK REVIEWS A'Shauna Tyler HERSTORY LaKeisha Walker GENERAL ASSIGNMENT Dr. Lona D. Cobb FACULTY ADVISOR Some photographs published in the Banner are courtesy of Gene Keenum in the Admissions Office and the Public Affairs and Martieting Office. The Bennett Banner is a laboratory newspaper published twice a month during the academic year, except during months with College recognized holidays or College vacations. The newspaper is pro duced by and for students at Bennett College. The newspaper office is located in Shell Hall C-2. Should humans be cloned? The first reported mammal ever being cloned from a singled adult cell has raised troubling questions and concerns. E LAX ASHA M. GRESHAW CLASS: FRESHWOMAN MAJOR: DIETETICS HOME STATErMARYLAND Humans should not be cloned, due to the fact that we, as humans, are trying to take the place of nature. Cloning can be a risky business and may cause problems in the future. Wie need to allow nature to take its course. Humans must leave certain things up to a divine power. MILLICENT J. WHITE CLASS: FRESHWOMAN MAJOR: ENGLISH HOME STATE: CALIFORNL\ Modem science is fascinating and cloning is an interesting experiment. However, realize that even identical twins do not have identical DNA Cloning is a conspiracy by the government to get rid of all the thinking people and make us all zombies. NAIMA BARBOUR CLASS: SOPHOMORE MAJOR: MASS COMM. HOME STATE: MARYLAND I do not believe we should clone humans. It goes against God and nature. I do not understand why there is a need to clone. •i''' m TIRSHATHA DERRICKS-BEY CLASS: SOPHOMORE MAJOR: MASS COMM. HOME STATE: ILLINOIS / do not belive that they should clone humans. It is disgusting and unnatural. It will cause a lot of problems and chaos in the world that we do not need. TANYA WAGSTAFFE CLASS: SOPHOMORE MAJOR: ENGLISH HOME STATE: NEW YORK The donning process is not an effective one. What purpose does it serve? Every time the government gets bored, they start things that should not be tampered with. If God intended for me to have a clone, I would have been bom with an identical twin with the same DNA and everything. KENYETTA SNYDER CLASS: SOPHOMORE MAJOR: BUSINESS HOME STATE: NEW YORK Cloning has no purpose in our society. It is just a way for the government to take over by means of scientific tactics. Why would you want another person with the same ideas?