Adam Bowling
Senior Fellowship (Interdisciplinary Honors in Biology & Religion):

 "Ethical and Theological Issues Raised by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer"

This paper focuses on the technique of Somatic Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), and its relation to an analysis of the Christian understanding of personhood.  SCNT, also known as therapeutic cloning, is the transfer of a somatic cell nucleus, derived from a patient’s cell, to an egg from which the nucleus has been removed.  The hope is that the process of SCNT could completely eliminate the problems of tissue and organ rejection, consequently helping millions of Americans suffering from a multitude of diseases.  This paper argues that, while there are no biological reasons not to pursue SCNT, there are theological problems with therapeutic cloning.

The paper first explains the science behind SCNT, in order to lay a foundation on which to build an ethical discussion.  Rather than approaching the ethical controversy of SCNT simply from the standpoint of biomedical ethics, this paper approaches it from the standpoint of the Christian theological tradition, which makes particular arguments about the dignity of human life based on an understanding of human personhood.  Following a discussion on being made in God’s image, the Trinity, and hypostatic union, a Christian understanding of personhood is established.  The paper concludes that when the process of SCNT is considered, the moment the DNA from the patient is injected into the empty donated egg, then personhood is established, and human dignity must be conferred on that individual.  Therefore, from a theological standpoint, SCNT should not be dome.