Good news for Feminists, titled "Of Mice and Men"

[FAH1223]

Of mice and men...are fatherless children ethically acceptable?

Since the dawning of time mankind's existence has been solely dependent upon the contribution and interaction of two sets of genetic material acquired from both man and woman. Such as always been the case until 2004 when Dr Tomohiro Kono and his colleagues at Tokyo University sent shock waves through the scientific community and indeed the world by being the first ever to create a viable adult mouse from the genomic DNA of two female mice, dispensing altogether of the male’s contribution. But what wasn’t made aware to the public by some sensationalists within the media industry was that the procedure took nearly 598 mice embroyos (Chances) to create 1 parthenogenetic mouse. This is an obvious indication of the complexities that are behind mammalian development.

Further breakthrough in this controversial area of research came through in the 2005 announcement of the first ever human parthenogenic embryo to be produced at the Roslin institute. Though the embryo was not delivered to full term these encouraging results could be used as to give credibility to the impeding possibility that these applications may one day be utilized to treat infertility in traditional and non tradition partnerships.

However, a maelstrom of highly significant ethical concerns has been raised as a clear and direct result of these very same studies. One of which being that there are considerable doubts and reservations as to the scientific technique, safety, and efficacy such an invasive approach to human reproduction will have. Many ethicists are rigid in their stand point of ensuring that the safety risks highlighted in such a delicate field of science must be addressed and over come sufficiently enough, for us as a society to be able to even entertain the idea of producing human beings in such a manner. It also doesn’t help pro-cloning/parthenogenic groups to argue their points when a significantly high proportion (if not all) of the offspring produced as a direct result of asexual production exhibit signs of severe developmental abnormalities. This only stresses the argument that science must progress in a steady and cautious manner especially in regards to the human guinea pig.

No doubt remains as to the controversies such an area of fertility will impact upon the views of our society and to a certain extent our religious views. If for example future legislation's allow single women the reproductive right to produce children entirely autonomously it will invariably lead to the speculation as to the future redundancy of men and perhaps even sexual reproduction. But what of the rights of the yet to be conceived fatherless child?

Do they not have the fundamental human right to know of their own genetic lineage? To at the very least be aware of, if not be in full possession of both their maternal and paternal biological contribution? Do they not have the right to establish the same psychosocial foundation of identity you and I have, and indeed all of humanity has since time began? Others may argue the notion that our genomic lineage is of no particular consequence/importance to a child and if this is true, then why has the law currently back tracked on its idea of sperm and egg donor anonymity? Could it be that the amount of psychological studies carried out on human identity has helped to bring forth the importance of being in full possession of ones own identify? Could the government indeed be looking out for the interests of all humanity and not just for the ones who are lucky enough to exist?

Will the production of fatherless children ever be ethically acceptable and what do you feel about the prospect of men becoming obsolete in the west? *Secretly cackles an evil laugh*

Discuss....



Key definitions

For those of you unaware as to what Parthenogenesis is? Its a form of asexual reproduction where females are able to initiate the production of offspring without the aid of a male during fertilization, equally Androgenesis is the male form of parthenogesis where the production of viable offspring is achievable under the strict utilization of nuclear chromosomes attained exclusively from male parents.

[Oxy-]

Wonderful book "Of mice & Men"

I would reccommend any 1 to read it

[Kolombo]

Misleading title, maan. I thought some feminists sued the authors of "Mice and Men" to change it to "Mice and Women" or something along that line.

Interesting article, nevertheless.

[Gatspy]

lool yeah for a second i thought that John Steinbeck was being sued in his grave. yeah its an awesome book Oxy

Androgenesis and parthenogesis!! makes One wonder how far will kufaar take this.

[black velvet]

That book was...uncomfortable



Lakin I think 2 women would do a better job of raising a child than 2 men ever could