Science and human values often clash. The concept of cloning non-human animals and humans is a prime example where religious, cultural, and personal moral beliefs may make some people feel uncomfortable, and even outraged. Public surveys taken after the revelation of the cloned sheep, Dolly, found that most people are opposed to human cloning (see for example Time , March 10, 1997). There is a greater tolerance for cloning animals to serve human purposes. However, some groups oppose animal cloning for moral reasons. Many others have called for caution and a careful consideration of the ethical ramifications of cloning. Others claim that you can't stop scientific progress and that it may even be immoral to limit experimentation on animals if such work might lead to new medical treatments for some humans. Despite the focus on the ethics of human cloning, there are ethical questions surrounding animal cloning that should be explored. .
Western cultural traditions seem to believe that our treatment of animals should be guided by different ethical standards than our treatment of humans. The prevailing perspective is that it is morally permissible to use animals in scientific research if the research can be shown to benefit humans or other animals. Continued public funding for animal experimentation in science, coupled with some regulation to prevent cruelty and limit the pain and suffering of laboratory animals, would support this view. .
For a perspective that supports continued use of animals in scientific research see: .
The United States government has questioned the morality of, but not prevented, the cloning of non-human animals. However, President Clinton has issued a temporary ban on human cloning research. The European Parliament has called for a moratorium on animal cloning until ethical studies can be undertaken. .
Other groups believe that non-human animals deserve to be treated with the same ethical standards that we grant to humans.
