It is a distortion to claim that cloning technology is directed towards the recreation of dead people without balance against the realistic scientific goal, which is directed towards medical and agricultural benefit. It may be interesting to know how many of us following the Dolly media frenzy learnt, for instance, that genetically engineered domestic animals, producing drugs such as interferon, already exist. Cloning of these animals will enhance the mass production of cheap, quality controlled, life-saving drugs and other pharmaceuticals. It may also be interesting to know how many of us accepted the claim that Dolly is an exact replica of Dolly senior. If you believe that Dolly is an identical replica, then you are misinformed.
Genes are one thing but the environment in which Dolly developed and now lives in, is another.
The phenomenon of genomic imprinting has shown us that DNA is not passed on through generations intact because the environment also produces lasting inheritable changes in the way DNA works. The combination of in vitro treatments to manipulate a somatic cell to begin developing into another individual together with the influences of the surrogate's unique uterine environment, similarly bestows an environmental or epigenetic mark. What this imprint may represent is totally unclear but Dolly, if and when she produces her own offspring, may provide some clues. We acknowledge that this is already happening to a greater or lesser degree depending on the subject and circumstances. We all know that the world is a better place thanks to the efforts of biologists like David Suzuki, Paul Ehrlich and many others who have reminded us that not to challenge existing cultural mores, particularly in matters of conservation and the need for human population control, may jeopardize our very survival.