Cloning Humans

Published May 19, 2018 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey guys,

Long time listener first time writer. Just wanted to send a quick email about a topic that continues to being brought up. When discussing the implications of replacing or cloning humans there seems to be a lot of controversy as to what constitutes the original self. I want to clarify that research has shown that neurons do not continually replace throughout our lives like other cells. Studies have shown that after 18 months of age our brains stop creating neurons. There is plenty of data showing the importance of neuroplasticity i.e. the dynamic connections between neurons that impact our cognition and neurologic functions. Brain cells also degenerate over our lifetime via various processes and pathology etc.

I just had to email in to clarify this as someone who works in the medical field. To me this fact means that to truly retain the actual being and original essence, soul, whatever you want to call it you need to move , at bare minimum, various portions of the original brain to the new host body for it to be the same original “soul”.

-Glenn
PS: below is an excerpt from an academic neurology textbook discussing the development of the brain.

“…essential stages are (1) proliferation of a vast number of undifferentiated brain cells; (2) migration of the cells toward a predetermined location in the brain and the beginning of their differentiation into the specific type of cell appropriate to that location; (3) aggregation of similar types of cells into distinct regions; (4) formation of innumerable connections among neurons, both within and across regions; and (5) competition among these connections, which results in the selective elimination of many and the stabilization of the 100 trillion or so that remain. These events do not occur in rigid sequence but overlap in time, from about 5 weeks after conception onward. After about 18 months of age, no more neurons are added, and the aggregation of cell types into distinct regions is roughly complete. But the pruning of excess connections-clearly a process of great importance for the shape of the mature brain-continues for years.”

Ackerman S. Discovering the Brain. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1992. 6, The Development and Shaping of the Brain.Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234146/

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