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Journal of Medical Ethics logoLink to Journal of Medical Ethics
. 1999 Apr;25(2):105–107. doi: 10.1136/jme.25.2.105

To clone or not to clone--a Jewish perspective.

J H Lipschutz 1
PMCID: PMC479191  PMID: 10226913

Abstract

Many new reproductive methods such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation, freezing of human embryos, and surrogate motherhood were at first widely condemned but are now seen in Western society as not just ethically and morally acceptable, but beneficial in that they allow otherwise infertile couples to have children. The idea of human cloning was also quickly condemned but debate is now emerging. This article examines cloning from a Jewish perspective and finds evidence to support the view that there is nothing inherently wrong with the idea of human cloning. A hypothesis is also advanced suggesting that even if a body was cloned, the brain, which is the essence of humanity, would remain unique. This author suggests that the debate should be changed from "Is cloning wrong?" to "When is cloning wrong?".

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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