Abstract Therapeutic cloning has in recent times attracted a lot of controversy in terms of its benefits and shortfalls. Production of embryos to yield stem cells that can be utilized in treatment of a variety of medical conditions is the main purpose of therapeutic cloning. However, in the process the embryonic cells get killed. The embryonic cells have a potential to transform into any type of cell in the body and because of this, opponents of therapeutic cloning assert that the procedure equates murder. However, therapeutic cloning holds the key to treatment of a myriad of medical conditions that have no known cure currently and result in great rates of mortality and low quality of life of affected people. Therefore, the benefits of therapeutic cloning outweigh its shortcomings. Introduction Thesis statement Benefits of therapeutic cloning in humans outweigh its shortcomings. Recent advances in science have resulted in development of novel and advanced approaches in management of a myriad of medical conditions. Cloning is an example of such advances and has attracted a lot of controversy across all spheres of the society (Arsanjani 165). There are two types of cloning namely reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning creates an exact copy of individual that already exists or existed. Therapeutic cloning on the other hand entails the use of pleuripotent stem cells from an individual for medical treatments of various conditions such as diabetes, stroke and Parkinsonism. The controversy arises due to the similarity in these two cloning methods. Therapeutic cloning is relatively a new method and has not been well studied in the human race (Aenisch 2787). The first case of therapeutic cloning was carried out in November 2001by the Advanced Cell Technology Company based in Worcester, Massachusetts, where there was a successful production of cloned human embryos (Robin 88). Therapeutic cloning is subject to yet identified risks and dangers that may arise from accidents during the process of cloning. Therapeutic cloning employs methods such as somatic cell nuclear transfer that may result in unplanned mutations in the genetic code of the embryonic stem cells (Shoukhrat 155). This is of concern to the opponents of the procedure. In addition, therapeutic cloning results in killing of the embryo which according to the opponents has a potential of one day developing into a fully functioning human being. Despite the fact that therapeutic cloning is perilous, and is not under full control of humans, the practice could be beneficial to human lives by offering a means of replacement of damaged or missing body parts and facilitating total remission of various chronic diseases. The Process Therapeutic cloning entails the utilization of embryonic stem cells for medical purposes obtained through a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer. The process entails removal of the nucleus of a somatic cell from the patient who requires the therapy. The source of the somatic cell can be the skin in the case of isogenic skin grafting (Atala and Koh 28). Thereafter, an egg cell (oocyte) is obtained and stripped off the nucleus. The nucleus of the somatic cell is then transferred into the oocyte with the help of electric current and special chemical agents to facilitate the formation of the blastocyst. The pleuripotent embryonic stem cells are then extracted from the emb