Journal of Gyansagar Science Foundation 2013 04 01

Author(s): Sanjeev Sogani, Vimal Jain
Publisher: Gyansagar Science Foundation

Page 91

Prof. Dr. Sohan Raj Tater, Volume 1 Issue 1 April 2013
Cloning
To produce the genetical counterpart i.e. to produce the exact copy of the donor parent (male or female, either of the two), is known as cloning. According to Jain karmic theory, it can be said to be the result of the maturity of the physique-making completion karma of the being. The traits of a being are determined by the chromosomes present in its ingredient cells. Most of the developed beings give birth to their issues by sexual reproduction. Half each of the chromosomes present in the reproductive cells of male and female produce a new being that has the characteristics of both father and mother.
But in the case of cloning, the issue is produced by the general body cells of either the male or the female and this issue is the exact copy of its donor. In undeveloped beings, trees and plants, this process takes place in a natural way in the form of asexual reproduction, but modern scientists have begun to reproduce developed beings like rats, sheep and even human beings also by this method.
The Technique of cloning adopted in mammals
Innumerable cells are found in every flora and founa. The number of such cells in human body is about 6070 trillions. Every cell is a complete living unit in itself. There is a nucleus in the centre of the cell. This nucleus contains the chromosomes of that being. The number of chromosomes in human beings is 46. These chromosomes contain all the traits of heredity. They are made up of chemicals like DNA and RNA. These chromosomes contain genes. Round the nucleus is a fluid known as protoplasm.
The sperm cells of the male and the egg cells of the female too are ripe cells. They do not procreate by duplication. In mammals, there is sexual reproduction. In this process, the sperm by way of fusion with the egg cell forms a new cell. This new cell has the trait of copying by which it turns into a foetus. The number of chromosomes in the nucleus of this cell is 46, but half of them are of the male and the rest are of the female. Contrary to this in the case of cloning, all the chromosomes in the new cell are only of one of them.
The process of cloning in mammals may be explained like this-a healthy egg cell of the female is used. By a special technique, the nucleus of this cell is taken out and the protoplasm (the cell without nucleus) is absorbed in a
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culture medium and placed at a safe place. Now, the cell of the donor parent (the clone of which is to be produced) is taken out of its skin. The nucleus of this cell is separated very carefully. This nucleus is then transplanted into the protoplasm that had been preserved previously. Thus a new cell is formed, the nucleus of which is the nucleus of the donor parent. It is clear, thus, that this new cell contains the chromosomes of the donor parent only. It is then, by way of copying, is transformed into a foetus. This foetus is placed in the ovary of any female where it begins to develop in a normal way. The issue that is born in this way contains the chromosomes of the donor parent only. It totally resembles its donor parent and is the carbon copy of the donor parent. We will have to install the nucleus of the being, the clone of which we want to prepare, in the protoplasm (cell without nucleus) of the egg cell of the female. If we want to prepare the clone of a male, we will have to install the nucleus of its cell in the egg cell (having no nucleus) and if we want to prepare the clone of a female, we will have to install the nucleus of the female in the egg cell (that does not have a nucleus.)
Jain Karmic Theory and Human Cloning
According to Jain philosophy, all the actions and events of life are controlled by karmas. The body, longevity, status of birth, joys and sorrows that a being gets, are determined by its karmas. But it does not mean that karmas are the sole determiners of all the activities of life. In fact, karmas only create conditions and circumstances; it is up to the being to act or not to act according to those karmas. The soul, no doubt, is bound by karmas but it can change the course of life and events by its self-exertion and devotion. Jain religion is actually to win over karmas by the independent force of consciousness.
Now the question arises-when these are the scientists who have come to determine the different characteristics of human and other beings, what role does the Jain karmic theory play? Is not bringing about any change in body a challenge to the karmic theory? It will be Justifiable here to say that if a culprit breaks some part of a man's body or some one gets the organs of body by surgery, or someone gets one's criminal thinking changed by undergoing some psychological treatment or meets untimely death by an accident or taking poison, all these things cannot be said to be challenges to the karmic theory. The same thing is now being done by scientists in a more systematic way; but there can be no gainsaying the fact that this act of cloning is absolutely unnatural and immoral. Producing the same kind of creatures is not at all proper. Having the same features and body does not mean that the personality and the behaviour of