02 Clone Wars
克隆戰爭

導讀

克隆是英文clone的音譯，簡單講就是一種人工誘導的無性繁殖方式。克隆技術的設想是由德國胚胎學家于1938年首次提出的。1952年，科學家首先用青蛙開展克隆實驗，之后不斷有人利用各種動物進行克隆技術研究。1996年7月5日，英國科學家伊恩·維爾穆特博士用成年羊體細胞克隆出一只328綿羊，給克隆技術研究帶來了重大突破，它突破了以往只能用胚胎細胞進行動物克隆的技術難關，首次實現了用體細胞進行動物克隆的目標，實現了更高意義上的動物復制。

 

With all the benefits of cloning, it may seem puzzling that anyone would protest its continued exploration and perfection. However, that is exactly what has occurred, as scientists delve deeper into the mysteries of artificial duplication of life. Many religious groups are infuriated that humanity is busying itself with the creation of life. They argue vociferously that such actions are to be left to some almighty creator. They believe that only God—in whatever visage one chooses to ascribe to an omnipotent deity—has the right to create life, and that human science is treading in territory that it has no right to invade. Moreover, religious groups are concerned that clones may lack a spiritual dimension. They worry that clones will be missing souls. They believe that only those human beings who are conceived via procreation are provided with souls by a deity. By proceeding with cloning experiments, many in the religious community argue, science is on the brink of unleashing a culture of soulless life forms onto the world.

Nor are religious groups the only ones who shy away from cloning. Other parties are concerned that cloning will lead to a group of people that will be regarded as less than human, or at the very least, inferior to those who have been cloned via procreation. Some people fear that clones will be exploited and used as slaves. Moreover, even the gender wars come into the cloning arena. At least one staunch feminist worries that if men are allowed to perfect human cloning, they will eventually produce a race of subservient compliant women. Still others fear that cloning will lead to the production of genetically enhanced super-soldiers. These will be, quite literally, human instruments of war.

On the other hand, scientists argue that humanity has every right to explore cloning and any other aspect of human existence. They chide religious groups for curtailing valuable scientific inquiry. They point out that the argument about whether or not embryos that have been produced via cloning have souls was also raised when in vitro fertilization first became a reality. Those involved in biotechnology concede that there are risks involved in cloning experimentation, but they point out that risk has always been a part of human advancement. They maintain that taking cautious steps into the development of cloning will curtail many unnecessary mistakes, and they are prepared to accept the mistakes that they do make. Ultimately, a great many scientists argue that the benefits involved in moving deeper into the realm of cloning more than outweigh the risks of stifling further research.

Translation Practices

翻譯練習

Moreover, even the gender wars come into the cloning arena. At least one staunch feminist worries that if men are allowed to perfect human cloning, they will eventually produce a race of subservient compliant women. Still others fear that cloning will lead to the production of genetically enhanced super-soldiers. These will be, quite literally, human instruments of war.

Key

還有，克隆甚至會引發性別戰爭。至少有一位堅定的女權主義者表示擔憂，認為如果男人獲準完善克隆技術，他們便會制造一批恭順又屈從的女性來。還有人擔心人們會利用克隆技術，通過增強基因的辦法創造一批“超級戰士”，而這很容易被當作戰爭的工具。