@Yanny:
Stem cell research basically is cloning, just on a smaller scale.
hmmmm . . . well, not if you are speaking relative to the Raelian’s supposed “accomplishment”. As stated before, stem cells basically are undifferentiated tissue (or early/primary pseudo-differentiated tissue) - that is tissue that has not “decided” to become a liver/heart/brain/skin etc. Anyway, the stem cells need to come from somewhere - usually from aborted foetal tissue.
Now am i to understand that you would apply principles of cloning to create a foetus in order to raid/harvest it for stem cells in order to create organs? How would you deal with the telomere shortening? The ethics of willfully creating a living being for the purpose of destroying it? The fact that there is already more than enough foetal tissue being flushed down sewers every day on this continent?
I think you are doing both issues a disservice by attempting to combine them for the sake of discussion. There is already enough cloud in each issue.
Cloning complete humans really is pointless. I can’t think of a single practical application for it (except for 2 women wanting to have a baby w/o a male involved, or a male is “ill-prepared” for the task).
Well, there are other fertility issues, miscarriages, perinatal deaths, creating the perfect George Bush asassination army, testing scientific applications . . . but largely you’re right.