Disorders of sexual preference or paraphilias are bizarre patterns of sexual behavior that have diverse manifestations and are of complicated sexual orientations. Some of these are harmless, while others are not, robbing sufferers and possibly their partners of loving sexual relationship. At least 40 paraphilias have been named, but the full extent of the field, perhaps, is still undiscovered. Recent studies have reported many paraphilias as long-term effects of sexual abuse in childhood, and the more frequent and persistent the abuse is, the worse the long-term psychologic, behavioral, and relationship problems. Psychopathology within this group of disorders may lead to criminal behavior, ranging from infringement of decency to some of the most heinous crimes known.

No abstract

Research on the cloning of human cells holds the promise of medical benefits, but cloning humans is a far more complex and ethically disturbing issue. Some have argued strenuously that human cloning should be banned permanently. They have called it immoral, repugnant, and abhorrent. Most European countries have already banned it, and others are considering a proscription. While allowing fundamental research in the field to progress, we need a wide debate on human cloning. We need to think about what, if any, circumstances might warrant cloning, as well as the circumstances under which it should never be allowed.