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apart from sci-fi clones, any clone would be simply a genetic identical able to live as an independent being. That is if the clones are intended to become people... 'harvest bodies' or frontal lobe deficient organ/limb donor clones have every chance of being available, but it sure is hard to imagine.
Clones would allow for the proverbial last man or woman on earth to repopulate, would he or she be privy to the cloning technology. I can envision a kid-cu-bator in a couple hundred years that accepts hair from both parents, male or female, and in several months the clone baby is ready for 'birth'. No more messy pregnancy, and paternity/maternity test would be a sinch.
DNA evidence would be impacted to some degree...
"So, mr. Forensic scientist, how sure are you that this man is guilty due to DNA evidence?"
"100% sure, er... unless he's been cloned"
But, since identical DNA still produces cells that look/act differently, I'm sure they'd get over that hump.
I can also immagine the potential for classism regarding clones, or the discrimination by 'first bloods'....
Still, no clones would posess the personalities of the constituent donor(s), so the potential to inadvertently run into one's own clone on the street is rather slim.
I'm curious as to the scientific findings of recent cloning experiments. With Dolly the sheep, even though it was born new, the cells had the behavior of cells that were the age of the donor sheep... So that could be a problem for hopes to establish a vibrant population of human-lifespan clones.
As for the 'ought' or becoming a creator question, I guess it seems hard to prove either way... what kind of God would be caught off guard with the intellect of humanity so that He'd will mankind to screech to a halt all technological progress? If there is a God, She'd have seen this coming a mile away. But, it does seem a little unnatural on a gut reaction...
Interesting topics. I miss philo classes!
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