Critical Annotated Webliography

Q3. Frankenstein continues to occupy the popular imagination as a monstrous scientist. Analyse some of the ways in which Frankenstein continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies.

The haunt discussion of recent technologies has always based on the produce of Frankenstein. To improve our living standard and letting human beings to make more progress, scientists tried to clone mammals in experiments and researches before human cloning is succeeded. In answering this question, I will first discuss how Frankenstein was important to cloning. The reasons human cloning will then be discussed. However, many people think that human cloning will bring lots of harm to us. Lots of problems still need to be solved before human cloning is really succeeded.

1. Frankenstein's Footsteps: Science, Genetics and Popular Culture
This article article talks about how the book report the recent ideas of biomedical science is being affected, e.g. cloning, vitro fertilization and recombinant DNA. A sheep called Dolly was first created by cloning which is similar to the Frankenstein’s method to give a life to it; Creating life artificially had reinforced the public’s interests. After a few years, a child was given birth in America by vitro fertilization; in 1975, some biologists restricted recombinant DNA experiments. Others argued that “modern Dr. Frankensteins have found a way to create brand-new forms of life.” And believing that the recombinant DNA research was approved and a cartoon shoed a mad scientist created Frankensteinian monsters very rush.

2. Frankenstein and Human Cloning
This project is referring to how Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein affects cloning. The first cloning was in 1997 which a sheep was called Dolly being born. Except cloning from sheep, cloning other mammals would be very common and even human cloning. Some people may think that cloning is unethical and unmoral. Religious studies believe it is threatening our existence. Some others believe that cloning can bring lots of benefits to us. There are medical benefits and scientific benefits. The author did not support either one side about the debate of human cloning. We may consider should we against or accept human cloning and had a better understanding about cloning and how it is harmful or beneficial to humankind and our existence.


3. The Benefits of Human Cloning
The third article talks about the benefits of cloning. The author listed several benefits includes rejuvenation, infertility, defective genes, plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery etc. not only the scientists support human cloning, but also other normal citizens over the world. For example, cloning can help those couples who are infertile to have a second child or even the first child. If these couples suffer painfully from unable of having children, human cloning can reduce the time and money consumed by them to have a baby. Also, those couples who have given birth to children with serious diseases and the children finally died, cloning can help them free from these diseases. Heart attack and cancers are very famous killers in many countries. Cloning can let us differentiate cancer and inject the healthy heart cells to the patient’s hearts and avoid from dying too soon and extend their lives.

4. Cloning & Genetics
This article includes two sources titled with “Beyond Cloning: Where’s the rest of me?” and “Scientists take a giant step towards cloning humans”. These two sources give us examples of how scientists attempt and success in cloning. In Cleveland, the scientists cloned monkeys and did researches on it. Some believes that full-body transplant can help people to replace the old bodies and become youth. There are still questions bringing out in the successfulness of human cloning. On the other hand in Hawaii, they cloned mice successfully. They believe that the scientists have made a huge step towards human cloning’s success as the genes and mechanics are similar between human being and mice. In succeed of cloning mice, human cloning will also be worked.

5. Cloning is wrong; Cloning is unnecessary
In this article, people claimed the harmfulness of cloning to human beings. In doing researches of cloning, creating a new embryo is necessary. It is unethical to create a new embryo and then destroy it in helping of another life. Cloning would also be harmful to women in killing lots of the eggs per clone. If they use animals’ eggs to do research, it is wrong. Also, the article mentioned that cloning is unnecessary in helping people for better life. Lots of benefits can also be gained by stem cells without human cloning which takes time, researches and money to do so.

6. Obituary for the first human clone, and for cloning
The author of this article from the blog mentioned that human cloning has been outdated. Though a cloned human embryo was created a few months ago, it was then out of concern over the world that very few people mention it again anymore. A new technique “reprogramming” has started by the scientists without creating or destroying any embryo. It reduces the use of stem cells and brings less harm to humans. Even the professor who first cloned the sheep Dolly is walking away from human cloning towards reprogramming. The author proves that many of the scientists are doing research on reprogramming and leaving human cloning. Reprogramming is regarded as more ethical and effective with less harm to humans and our humanity will not be downgraded.

Conclusion
These sources first help in defining how Frankenstein affected the recent technologies. Every biomedical science was being ignored and misunderstood by different professionals. The appearance of Frankenstein helps approving lots of these sciences like cloning and recombinant DNA. This book can strongly support about the nature of biomedical science. Cloning was the hottest issue in the past years. There are lots of pros and cons towards this issue. These sources provide support and spaces for us to consider should we against or accept human cloning and had a better understanding about cloning and how it is harmful or beneficial to humankind and our existence. The discussion of cloning is not only enthusiastic in America, but also in other western countries. The article from Dr. David Van Gend who is an Australian doctor proves that cloning has been left behind and other new technologies are being brought.

References:
1. Robert S. Schwartz, M.D. "Frankenstein's Footsteps: Science, Genetics and Popular Culture". http://www.amazon.com/Frankensteins-Footsteps-Science-Genetics-Popular/dp/0300074174 (accessed on 29 March 2008)

2. J. Wilson and C. Sullivan. “Frankenstein and Human Cloning”. http://webhome.idirect.com/~zendo/FrankenClone.html (accessed on 29 March 2008)

3. Simon Smith. “The Benefits of Human Cloning”.
http://www.humancloning.org/benefits.php (accessed 30 March 2008)

4. Salon Magazines and London Times. “Cloning & Genetics”. http://www.countdown.org/end/cloning_03.htm (accessed on 30 March 2008)

5. Australian for Ethical Stem Cell Research. “Cloning is wrong; Cloning is unnecessary”. http://www.cloning.org.au/ (accessed on 30 March 2008)

6. Blog of Dr. David Van Gend. “Obituary for the first human clone, and for cloning”. http://davidvangend.blogspot.com/ (accessed on 30 March 2008)