Common misconceptions about cloning have been engendered in vast portions of our society by misrepresenting science fiction, horror, and propaganda films, as well as by the unsubstantiated outcries of opponents of cloning within the political, religious, and intellectual elite.

These include a dark forecast of a world of "clone armies" of like-thinking, like-doing conformists, the prognosis of children bred for spare parts, the idea that cloning will render the family unit obsolete, and even the notion that a man can make an identical adult copy of himself overnight.

A general education on the subject of cloning will render it plain that a clone has less in common with its "template" individual than do two identical twins (one of whom does not, by the way, unconditionally do another's bidding), that stem cell research may one day render available the production of human organs separate of any whole human being (hence the lack of need to specifically breed people for destruction), that the birth of a cloned individual will still require a surrogate mother who will likely also serve as either the wife of the man cloned or have a husband to assist in raising her cloned daughter, and the fact that a clone must still progress through all the stages of development and a man's clone-child, for example, will be a generation younger than he.

The behavior of twins, which are more genetically similar than synthetic clones would be, demonstrates that, although certain behavioral and physiological inclinations have been found to be common in twins, there exist numerous traits, ranging from matters of taste to those of overall personality, that differ even in twins raised in the same household.

The cumulative set of experiences of a lifetime is so diverse and immense that no two individuals can possibly have explored all of the same facets of reality nor be inclined toward making the absolute same decisions. If an individual and his clone are less similar to one another than identical twins, then we need have no fear about people making "copies" of themselves. The latter act is simply impossible!

In addition, an individual's free will can distinguish his behavior even if he is thrust into the same situation as his twin or clone. Where his sibling may lack the fortitude to, for example, uphold a commitment, that individual may nevertheless pursue the moral course of action. Studies of twins could dispel the notion that cloning will somehow bring about robotic hordes of conformists indiscriminately subordinate to the man who had been cloned. Rather, a vast diversity of character, actions, and ideas within every individual shall never be reduced, no matter how our reproductive technology develops.

G. Stolyarov II is a science fiction novelist, independent philosophical essayist, poet, amateur mathematician, composer, contributor to Enter Stage Right, Le Quebecois Libre,  Rebirth of Reason, and the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Senior Writer for The Liberal Institute, weekly columnist for GrasstopsUSA.com, and Editor-in-Chief of The Rational Argumentator, a magazine championing the principles of reason, rights, and progress. Mr. Stolyarov also publishes his articles on Helium.com and Associated Content to assist the spread of rational ideas. His newest science fiction novel is Eden against the Colossus. His latest non-fiction treatise is A Rational Cosmology. His most recent play is Implied Consent. Mr. Stolyarov can be contacted at gennadystolyarovii@yahoo.com.

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Learn about Mr. Stolyarov's novel, Eden against the Colossus, here..

Read Mr. Stolyarov's new comprehensive treatise, A Rational Cosmology, explicating such terms as the universe, matter, space, time, sound, light, life, consciousness, and volition, here.

Read Mr. Stolyarov's new four-act play, Implied Consent, a futuristic intellectual drama on the sanctity of human life, here.