CLONING

Christine Mina
David Diehl
Fritzgy Joseph
 What is Cloning?
• a group of organisms or cells produced
asexually from one ancestor or stock,
to which they are genetically
identical.
• an individual organism or cell so
produced.
• a person or thing regarded as identical
to another
• make an identical copy of.
• Biochemistry replicate (a fragment of
DNA placed in an organism) so that
there is enough to analyze or use in
protein production.
 Recombinant DNA
Technology or DNA Cloning
• Transfer of a DNA fragment of interest from
one organism to a self-replicating genetic
element such as a bacterial plasmid
• Names include: "recombinant DNA
technology," "DNA cloning," "molecular
cloning," and "gene cloning”
• Scientists studying a particular gene often
use bacterial plasmids to generate
multiple copies of the same gene.
• To "clone a gene," a DNA fragment
containing the gene of interest is isolated
from chromosomal DNA using restriction
enzymes and then united with a plasmid
 Reproductive Cloning
• “Reproductive cloning is a technology used to
generate an animal that has the same nuclear DNA
as another currently or previously existing animal.”
• The first cloned mammal Dolly, was created through
reproductive cloning
• SCNT or “somatic cell nuclear transfer” transfers
genetic material from the nucleus of a donor adult
cell to an egg without a nucleus.
• Reconstructed egg must be treated with chemicals or
electric current in order to stimulate cell division.
Then the cloned embryo is transferred to the uterus
of a female host where it continues to develop.
• Animals created through nuclear technology are not
completely identical clones, due to mitochondria
from egg where nucleus is placed.
• Only the DNA is identical
•
 Therapeutic Cloning
• Also called “embryo cloning”
• Production of human embryos for
research use
• Goal not to create clones of humans,
but to harvest their stem cells to
study human development and
disease
• Stem cells can generate virtually any
specialized cell in the body
• Extracting the stem cells destroys the
embryo, which raises moral concerns
 How can cloning
technologies be used?
• Recombinant DNA technology is important for learning
about other related technologies, such as gene
therapy, genetic engineering of organisms, and
sequencing genomes
• Gene therapy can be used to treat certain genetic
conditions
– Introduces virus vectors that carry corrected copies
of faulty genes into the cells of a host organism
• With genome sequencing, fragments of chromosomal
DNA must be inserted into different cloning vectors
to generate fragments of an appropriate size for
sequencing.
• reproductive cloning can be used to develop efficient
ways to reliably reproduce animals with special
qualities.
• Reproductive cloning also could be used to repopulate
endangered animals or animals that are difficult to
breed.
What animals have been
cloned?
• First animal cloned was a tadpole in 1952
• Dolly, the sheep, was the first mammal
cloned
• Animals that have been cloned include:
– Sheep
– Goats
– Cows
– Mice
– Pigs
– Cats
– Rabbits
– Guar
 Can organs be cloned for
use in transplants?
• Scientists believe that one day cloning
organs for transplants WILL be
possible
• DNA would be extracted from the
person who needs the transplant, and
inserted into an enucleated egg
• After DNA starts to divide, stem cells
that can be formed into any type of
tissue are harvested
• Stem Cells could be used to generate
the needed organ
• Would significantly decrease need of
organ donors
 What are the risks of
cloning?
• Reproductive cloning is expensive
and inefficient
• More than 90% of attempts fail to
produce viable offspring
• The very few successes usually have
more diseases and poorer health
overall
• Clones are known to die mysteriously
 Should humans be
cloned?
• Physicians from the American Medical
Association and scientists with the
American Association for the
Advancement of Science have issued
formal public statements advising
against human reproductive cloning.
• The U.S. Congress has considered the
passage of legislation that could ban
human cloning.
• Many scientists believe cloning humans,
at least right now would be unethical
due to the very low success rates, and
 Morally right or wrong?
• Just because the ability is there to
clone, does not mean the
technology should be used
• If humans were to be cloned, their
rights need to be guarded too.
• If certain organs are harvested,
destroying the embryo, does that
tie in to the abortion debate? What
is the difference?
• If this technology were to get into the
wrong hands, all of mankind could
 Power Point Citations
• http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Hu
• http://www.synapses.co.uk/science/clone
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/m
•
Pamphlet Citations