Silver Comprehension Questions
(ELP Reader 2006)
Text Pages 1-3 From Science to Reality1 a) What was the public reaction to the birth of Dolly?
People could not help talking about this event everywhere and afterwards most people took objection to human cloning.
(Keiichiro)
People were so surprised and interested that they could not stop talking about this event.
(Kazuya)
(Keiichiro)
People were so surprised and interested that they could not stop talking about this event.
(Kazuya)
This story attracted worldwide attention through the media and people kept talking about it for some time. After that, many people, including some highbrows, began to criticize cloning.
(Masataka)
1b) Does Silver think that the cloning used for animals can be applied to humans?
Yes, Silver thinks it is possible cloning will be transferred to human cells, the equipment and facilities to carry it out is available and there are enough excellent personnel to do it.
(Masataka)
Silver thinks it is not difficult, the particular equipment and facilities are already available.
(Keiichiro)
Yes, Silver thinks it is very possible, the proper equipment and facilities are available.
(Kazuya)
Text Pages 3-6 From Plants to Tadpoles, but Not Mice
2. What is the “critical defining characteristic” of a cloned individual?
A clone is genetically identical to the hereditary cell or organism from which it is derived, as well as to any other clones derived from the same forebear.
(Masataka)
One's clone inherited cell and organization is genetically the same as other clones that derive from the same ancestor.
(Keiichiro)
Generically same cell or organism as ancestor from which it came.
(Kazuya)
3. Why are animal cells more difficult to clone than plant cells?
Plant cells are more suitable for cloning than animal cells because of their structure.
(Kenji)
Plants cells are much more flexible than animal cells in terms of their development potential.
(Ayaka)
4. Why does Silver think Gurdon’s research failed?
The success rate of Gurdon's experiment was low because of problems with equipment and technology.
(Kenji)
Silver thought it was a consequence of primitive equipment and available technology.
(Ayaka)
5. Why did scientists think Gurdon’s research failed?
Mother nature.
(Kenji)
Because of an almost religious thinking that cloning was against the laws of nature.
(Ayaka)
Text Pages 6-8 Cloning Enters Public Culture
6. Discuss the Toffler quotation on Text Page 6.
(Ayumi)
It seems to me that it to make biological carbon copies of oneself is not a fantastic idea at all. First of all, most people will not like to create their copy, as Silver mentioned later.
(Ayumi)
I think this opinion is pointless. Why would we want to make our copies only to know ourselves? What we do to the copies after we know ourselves? What about the Human rights of the copies?
(Tsutomu)
7. How did cloning enter public culture in the 1970’s and 80’s?
In 1970's and 1980's, cloning spread into popular culture through movies, television shows, and science fiction novels.
(Ayumi)
Cloning entered pubilc culture in the 1970's and 80's by media such as movies, TV programs, and science fiction novels.
(Tsutomu)
8. What event in the 1990’s created even greater awareness of cloning?
A report that two George Washington University scientists, Jerry Hall and Robert Stillman, had "cloned human embryos."
(Ayumi)
Jerry Hall and Robert Stillman who are scientists in Geroge Washington University, had "cloned human embryos."
(Tsutomu)
9. What was the public reaction to this research and why was it so strong?
The Vatican, Jeremy Rifkin, and the European Parliament criticized cloning. The European Parliament declared cloning is unethical, morally repugnant, contrary to respect for the person, and a grave violation of fundamental human rights.
(Haruka)
From various political corners, the Vatican, and Jeremy Rifikin , severe criticisms were offered. The European Parliament banned cloning, declaring that it was contrary to morality, ethics, and a serious offence of basic human rights.
(Marie)
Text Pages 8-10 From Sheep to People
10. What evidence does Silver present that suggests that human cloning will be possible?
Evidence that human cloning will be possible is that Dolly could be cloned and because "embryos of all mammals undergo early development in a very similar way" (p. 226 line 15).
(Haruka)
The fact that embryos of all mammals follow similar development, therefore the cloning of Dolly means that human cloning is also possible.
(Marie)
11. What is a basic medical principle that needs to be considered before the use of cloning is approved for use with humans?
"A basic principle of medical ethics is that doctors should not perform any procedure on human subjects if the risk of harm is greater than the benefit that might be achieved" (p. 227 line 1).
(Hiroki)
A basic principle of medical ethics is that doctors should not perform any procedure on human subjects if the risk of harm is greater than the benefit that might be achieved.
(Sayaka)
A basic principle of medical ethics is that doctors should not perform any procedure on human subjects if the risk of harm is greater than the benefit that might be achieved.
(Hisayuki)
12. How did the media report the birth of Dolly in a negative way?
"Many of the media reports that described the birth of Dolly emphasized the fact that the success rate was only 1/277 tries" (p. 227 line 7).
(Hiroki)
Many of the media reports that described the birth of Dolly emphasized the fact that the success rate was only 1 in 277 "tries."
(Sayaka)
Many of the media reports that described the birth of Dolly emphasized the fact that the success rate was only 1 in 277 "tries."
(Hisayuki)
13. Some genetic problems in humans occur when extra copies of a gene are passed on, or when a child receives a mutant gene from both parents. Are these more likely to occur with cloning?
No. According to Silver, "With Cloning, there is the same low probability of a new mutation in the genetic material brought in with the donor nucleus." (p. 227 line 34-)
(Hiroki)
In fact, there is no scientific basis for the belief that cloned children will be any more prone to genetic problems than naturally conceived children.
(Sayaka)
No. According to Silver, what all of these comparisons suggest is that berth defects in cloned children could occur less frequently than birth defects in naturally conceived children. (p. 227 line 37)
(Hisayuki)
14. What further research is necessary to see if cloned animals are as healthy as other animals?
It is necessary to research whether cloning effects the health of experimental animals.
(Emiko)
It should research the life span of small cloned animals like mice because they have a naturally short life.
(Shoji)
Research should investigate the effects on the health and life span of animals.
(Mizuki)
Text Pages 10-15 Cloning Misperceptions
15. According to Silver, why are people frightened of cloning technology?
The main reason is that people have a muddled sense of what cloning is, and another reason is that peoples' ideas are based on the notion that a clone is an imperfect imitation of the real thing.
(Emiko)
Same as above.
(Shoji)
There are two reasons. First, many people don't know the exact meaning of cloning, and also they misunderstand that cloning means to copy a persons' body and consciousness. Second, most people think that a clone is an imperfect imitation of the real thing. Additionally, these misunderstandings are shown and reinforced by some popular movies and novels.
(Mizuki)
***IMPORTANT QUESTION*** 16. How is life in “the general sense” different from life in “the special sense”?
OJ: Answer is missing.
17. In Huxley’s Brave New World, how would clones be used for social stability?
In Huxley's Brave New World, clones would be used as an instrument of social stability, because it was possible to obtain "standard men and women; in uniform batches."
(Sachiko)
By cloning people, an army of powerful soldiers, docile factory workers and people with great minds would be produced.
(Risa)
18. Why does Silver think governments will not chose to clone people for:
Social stability:
For social ability, only an extremely controlling totalitarian state could force women to act as surrogate mothers for babies that would be raised by the state.
(Sachiko)
Because the enslavement of women who bear the babies is unlikely to happen.
Making soldiers:
If the government is able to clone people, it can also develop more high-tech weapons of destruction. Thus, in this case, it is not important to clone muscular and strong soldiers because high-tech weapons are even stronger and more destructive.
(Sachiko)
Because if a govenment could clone people, they could also create a stronger army by developing high-tech weapons rather than developing an army of cloned soldiers.
(Risa)
Making factory workers:
Since most societies have enough factory workers, cloning of factory workers is not necessary.
(Sachiko)
It is not needed because there are enough workers in many societies.
(Risa)
Producing people with great minds:
The way the government choose the progenitor and what would happen during the twenty years for such clones to mature is not clear. To develop public education is the better way to produce great minds.
(Sachiko)
How a government would decide on the individuals with superior characteristics is extremely problematic.
(Risa)
19. Even if a powerful group did clone the leader, why does Silver think that such children would not become leaders in the future?
Because those cloned children would be raised by different people and the people around them may not respond to them as the people around the original person did.
(Sachiko) (Risa)
Text Pages 15-20 The Cloning of Children
20. What happened to Anissa and how did the parents choose to save her life?
Anissa was diagnosed with a serious disease and her parents searched for a donor, but they could not find a donor. So her mother Mary decided to have another child who could provide Anissa with the needed bone marrow.
(Masataka)
She fell to the disease called myelogenous leukemia. It causes cancer of blood stem cells which would bring about her death slowly. After failing to find a bone marrow donor in spite of their frantic search, her parents decided to try to save Anissa`s life by having another baby.
(Keiichiro)
21. How could Anissa have been saved with cloning technology?
If Anissa's parents used a skin cell from Anissa's body when they constructed a new embryo, they could have another child who would be a perfect match for Anissa.
(Masataka)
By using Anissa`s skin cells for constructing a new embryo that would become a perfect match donor for her.
(Keiichiro)
22. What was the reaction of some bioethicists to what Anissa’s parents did?
Some bioethicists disagreed with the decision Anissa's parents made from different aspects of ethics and human morality.
(Kenji)
Some bioethicists criticized Anissa's parents for what they had done, claiming her parents treated Marissa as an object.
(Ayaka)
Some bioethicists condemned the conduct of Anissa's parents because they believed that Anissa's parents looked upon Marissa as an object, not a human being.
(Numacchi)
23. What is Silver’s response to this reaction?
Silver shows understanding of the actions of Anissa's parents and disagrees with arguments different bioethicists gave.
(Kenji)
Silver thinks that it is absurd to critisize only Anissa's parents.
(Ayaka)
Silver thinks there are acceptable reasons for the conduct of Anissa's parents.
(Numacchi)
24. What are two more examples of the use of cloning to have a family? Do you agree with these?
a) A mother who is unable to have more children loses her children in an accident, and later discovers the existence of frozen cells of her dead babies.
(Ayumi)
b) Couples who become sterile after having one healthy child want to have another child by cloning.
(Ayumi)
(opinion)
It seems to me that both cases are unacceptable because they had opportunity to have babies. If we allow cloning in these cases like (a), parents will lament the children's death no more.
(Ayumi)
Opinon
I think the first example is acceptable because there no other way to have their gentically related children. And if I were in their situation, I would desire a child even if they were cloned.
(Tsutomu)
25. How does Silver think a cloned child will feel when they grow up and discover that they are a clone?
Silver thinks cloned children will not have negative feelings about their birth. →p. 237 line 34 -37
(Haruka)
According to Silver, cloned children would not think so badly about how they were born to come to think it would have been better they were not born at all.
(Marie)
Text Pages 20-21 The Cloning of Adults
26. DISCUSSION: What is your reaction to some of the questions Silver raises on Text page 21, lines 6-32?
Q. line7 - I think they should not have cloned children because they have the ability to make babies. And if they want to clone children to make good own donors, I cannot accept that idea.
Q. line 17 - I can understand an individuals desire to be a single parent, but overall it is not desirable idea.
Q. line 22 - I think that is quite few.
(Haruka)
Q. Would a fertile couple have any reason to clone?
I do not think so since there is no justified reason to make a cloned child as Silver said.
Q. What about single individuals who want to become single parents?
I disagree with this as well since in this case children are created as an investment for single parents and such children face the danger of being overprotected, and not treated as an independent person.
Q. How many people would actually want to clone themselves?
I think such people are few, but they are there.
Q Are all these people egomaniacs, as many have suggested in the media?
I do not think so, but I also cannot deny that these people may have characteristics similar to aspects egomaniacs.
(Marie)
27. How could cloning help infertile couples?
They can have babies by cloning. →p. 239 line 18-21
(Haruka)
In the case of heterosexual couples, as long as the female partner is able to carry a fetus to birth, they can have cloned babies in the exactly same way as Lesbian couples. (p. 238 line 33~36).
(Marie)
28. Does Silver think fertile couples would want to clone a child? Do you agree?
No. According to Silver, "For the vast majority, the answer would be no...couples will always want to produce a child that represents the ultimate consummation of their love for each other..." (p. 239 line 7-10)
I would not prefer to make a clone of myself if I have normal reproductive capacities.
(Hiroki)
For the vast majority, the anwer would be no. Instead, what most happily bonded couples have always wanted to do - and always will want to do - is to produce a child that represents the ultimate consummation of their love for each other.
(Sayaka)
No. What most happily bonded couples have always wanted to do is to produce a child. I strongly agree.
(Hisayuki)
29. How could cloning help someone to become a single parent? Do you think this is a good idea?
In the case of women, they can make their clone from skin cells and unfertilized eggs.
This is a process they are able to do on their own. On the other hand, men will need the help of surrogate mother to clone themselves. (p. 239 line 17- 21)
I can't agree with this idea because it not only contradicts the "natural way", but also there is inequality between men and women. Concerning sterile people, I cannot disagree completely with this idea.
(Hiroki)
Women, in particular, now have the power to do it all by themselves. They can combine one of their skin cells with one of their unfertilized eggs to be placed back into their own uterus to develop into their cloned child. Men, of course, could clone themselves only through the services of a surrogate mother.
(Sayaka)
Woman can combine one of their skin cells with one of their unfertilized eggs to be placed back into their own uterus. On the other hand, men can also clone themselves only through the services of a surrogate mother. I don't think this is a good idea because a single parent is not enough to raise a child.
(Hisayuki)
Text Pages 21-24 Jennifer and Rachel
30. Read the story of Jennifer and Rachel. What effect would cloning have on our concepts of ‘parents’,
‘children’ and ‘siblings’ etc.?
According to a single act of cloning, we are forced to reconsider the meaning of parents, children, and siblings, and how they relate to one another. For example, to think naturally, Jeniffer and Rachel are parent and child. But to think genetically, they are twins and the real parents of Rachel are her grandparents. Furthurmore, her children will also be her mother's children. We can see conflict with traditional understandings of parental relationships in this case. (p. 239 line 34 - p. 242 line14]
(Hiroki)
If a single person clones her/himself, then she/he and their child are, in genetic terms, twins. It cause problems. For example, a cloned child's children will also be her/his mother's/father's children.
(Hisayuki)
Text Pages 24-27 Is Cloning Wrong?
31. Dr. Callahan argued that cloned children would lose the right to have their own identity. What is Silver’s response to this argument?
Silver does not think the "right" to an identity has been granted by nature- identical twins are born every day as natural clones of each other.
(Shoji)
Silver thinks Callahan's idea is contradictory because Callahan disagrees with the creation of clones even though he would accept that identical twins are natural clones of each other.
(Emiko)
Silver predicts that Dr. Callahan would likely argue that just "because twins occur naturally does not mean we should create them on purpose" (p. 242, line 26).
(Mizuki)
32. Dr. Callahan argued that a cloned child would be harmed by the knowledge of future health problems. What is Silver’s response to this argument?
Silver thinks that knowing about your probable future health is not harmful. He states that not only cloned people but any individual can know about their future health as genetic knowledge and technology becomes increasingly sophisticated.
(Emiko)
In Dr. Callahan's argument, it is unfair for Rachel to know about her life through her mother. Silver argues that not only cloned children, but all children inherit their parents' genes, so Rachel's life will not necessarily turn out the same way as her mother's. Therefore, it is not so unfair. In addition, it will become possible for any human being to learn even more about their genetic future than Rachel can learn from Jennifer's past". (p. 243, line 5)
(Mizuki)
Many children have the same sense of the future possibillities through the genes of their parents as would cloned children.
(Shoji)
33. Discuss the questions raised by Silver in lines 28-34, text page 25.
In my opinion, it is difficult to make one complete answer to Silver's questions. I think that many people oppose the practice of cloning, but children born using cloning technology will have committed no crime. These children will most certainly be loved by their parents and they will live happily ever after. Thus, cloning is not always wrong, it may be just one other way to have a baby. However, of course this argument rests on the premise that cloning technology is perfect, and does not cause any physical harm to the child or parent(s).
(Mizuki)
Having a sense of the future is only a factor. Genetically identical parents might have higher expectations of their children than normal parents.
(Shoji)
I think Silver puts the problem of cloning into the problem of welfare for children, but it should be considered separately.
The reason that many politicians care so much about cloning is they fear the influence on peoples' minds. If cloning technology is permitted, everything might be possible to do for any people. At least, many politicians might think so. OJ: This part needs reviewing, it is not clear. For that reason, I think most of politicians tend to see the negative points of cloning.
(Emiko)
34. What is a religious objection to cloning?
Cloning leaves God out of the process of human creation.
(Sachiko) (Risa)
35. What are the arguments that cloning will harm society?
Since the continued interaction of genes is important in humankind's process, cloning's identicality would restrict evolution.
(Sachiko)
Cloning's identicality would limit evolution because the continued interplay of genes is essential to humankind's progress.
(Risa)
36. How does Silver counter this argument?
According to Silver, on practical grounds, even if cloning becomes popular, the number of cloned children would be small. Also, on theoretical grounds, humankind's progress is not related to unfettered evolution because humankind's evolution is always unpredictable and not necessarily upward bound.
(Sachiko)
In addition to Sachiko's idea, Silver also says that cloning doesn't mean all of the baby clones is the same individual.
(Risa)
Text Pages 27-33
37. How would people’s right to choose to reproduce be threatened by cloning?
Because a clone can be created from only one cell no matter who it was taken from. It means that if one cell was stolen, a clone of that person can be created without their knowledge or consent.
(Tsutomu)
In addition to the above, if children of clones make clones of themselves, their parents will have more children clones of of themselves (sisters/brothers), even if they do not agree.
(Ayumi)
With a single cell taken from anywhere on a person, a clone can be made.
(Kazuya)
38. Does Silver think people will try to clone famous people, or people in general without their consent?
No, most people want to have their own child, not by cloning. But he admits some heartless mother (and/or father) may want a clone of someone famous to make money.
(Masataka)
Silver thinks there is no meaningful reason to make the clone of a famous person. People, generally, who want to use cloning will want quality genes. And if there are parents who want their children to have good genes, they would be able to choose the donor with consent. Moreover, cloning famous people for money is not efficient because it may take a long time before the gamble pays off, if it does at all.
(Keiichiro)
No, Silver thinks people will be able to reach their reproductive goals by cloning someone who is not famous - with their consent.
(Emiko)
39. How could cloning help people through tissue regeneration?
People who have insufficient or damaged cells can have healthy cells through tissue regeneration. For example, people who have burnt body can recover health through tisssue regeneration. →P２４９L３１
（Haruka)
By converting one cell into a brand-new embyo, we could get ES cells which can be expanded into mass of undifferentiated tissue of any size that is needed, then converted into the particular tissue required, e.g. heart, lung, kidney.
(Risa)
40. What is genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering is the process by which scientists eliminate or add genetic material in the embryo to let the individual be born with characteristics which he or she would not have had otherwise.
(Sachiko)
It is the process by which scientists alter or add specific genes to the genetic material present in the embryo so that an individual could be born with characteristics that he / she would not have had otherwise.
(Hisayuki)
41. Why has genetic engineering not been applied to humans?
Because of the incredible inefficiency of genetic engineering technology. With the simplest technique for adding genes to embryos, the success rate is 50% at best, and this is accompanied by a 5% risk of inducing disease-causing mutations in the animal that is born. (p. 250 line 20-23)
(Hiroki)
Genetic engineering has a low rate of success and more sophisticated techniques are needed than currently available. (p. 250 line 29)
(Mizuki)
There is the problem of gene structure itself and because genetic engineering technology has not been advanced enough.
(Kenji)
42. Cloning could help genetic engineering be applied to humans. Do you agree that genetic engineering should be used in humans?
Do not agree. Using genetic engineering will make human life meaningless.
(Shoji) OJ: Support your idea with good reasons.
I agree because genetic engineering will enable us to have new medical treatments. Of course, before we use genetic engineering we should discuss the ethical problems first.
(Ayaka)
I do not agree with the use of genetic engineering, particularly in the area of food technology because the technology is very new and insufficient research has been done by scientists so far. The economic terms best practice and guarantee should be applied to genetic engineering. Best practice means that people who engage with particular technology should make their best effort to provide the best technology for the public. On the other hand, guarantee means that people who use the technology should make their best effort to give quality service to the public. In my view, genetic engineering, especially the GM foods industry, should follow the principles of best practice and guarantee because it is a very important area of technology for human life.
(Sayaka)
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