Running head: SUPER-CLONING: A TECHNIQUE FIVE TIMES BETTER

Super-Cloning: A Technique Five Time Better Amanda Cordero Vet/Med Period 4 March 8, 2013 West Career and Technical Academy

SUPER-CLONING: A TECHNIQUE FIVE TIMES BETTER Abstract Japanese researchers, using a similar technique as Dolly the Sheep, were able to clone a line of more than 500 mice. This time, however, they cloned mice from other cloned mice using

a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfusion. The Japanese researchers reported to the Cell Stem Cell journal on March 7 that they were able to make a line of 581 mice from the original mouse through 25 rounds of cloning. The technique starts off with a cell nucleus containing one of the mices genetic information, which is then injected into an egg cell whose nucleus has already been removed. Even though this was successful before, it has had a very low success rate. The main reason: genetic abnormalities have accumulated in each generation, causing the cloned animals to die. However, Wakayama and other colleagues grew the cloned cells in a solution that held trichostatin. Trichostatin is a compound that successfully interferes with the enzymes responsible for making changes in DNA; the technique was five times more successful. These researchers were able to clone the mice 25 times, consecutively. They cloned mice and cloned more mice from those clones. Every mouse was healthy, fertile, and lived a normal life span of two years with no abnormalities.

SUPER-CLONING: A TECHNIQUE FIVE TIMES BETTER Discussion

Cloning has been a very controversial issue in our country. However, it does benefit us in the science field tremendously. It can advance our studies in this topic and can actually benefit us in the production scale of our society. This technique of cloning with no abnormalities can help us in the production of the healthiest and superior-quality of livestock and maybe even crops. However, since cloning is very controversial, it can lead to the most serious question: will we soon be able to clone a human being? Not only is this dangerous but many can say that it goes against nature. Maybe instead of taking us one step further into the field of science, it is actually taking us one step closer to a line that is not meant to be crossed. On another note, this relates to my program, Vet/Med, because it involves the cloning of an animal. Animals have been successfully cloned throughout the years, but this is the most successful so far. Soon in the veterinary field, people will be asking for clones of their beloved pets or clones of a healthier pet to serve as a donor.

SUPER-CLONING: A TECHNIQUE FIVE TIMES BETTER References Lewis, T. (2013, March 8). Immortal line of cloned mice created. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/27759-immortal-cloned-mice-created.html