Understanding:
• Clones are groups of genetically identical organisms, derived from a single original parent cell
Clones are groups of genetically identical organisms or a group of cells derived from a single original parent cell
- Organisms that reproduce asexually will produce genetically identical clones
- Additionally, mechanisms exist whereby sexually reproducing organisms can produce clones (e.g. identical twins)
Cloning multicellular organisms requires the production of stem cells (differentiated cells cannot form other cell types)
- Stem cells can be artificially generated from adult tissue using a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)
Application:
• Production of cloned embryos produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer
Somatic cell nuclear transfer is a method by which cloned embryos can be produced using differentiated adult cells
- Somatic cells are removed from the adult donor and cultured (these cells are diploid and contain the entire genome)
- An unfertilised egg is removed from a female adult and its haploid nucleus is removed to produce an enucleated egg cell
- The enucleated egg cell is fused with the nucleus from the adult donor to make a diploid egg cell (with the donor’s DNA)
- An electric current is then delivered to stimulate the egg to divide and develop into an embryo
- The embryo is then implanted into the uterus of a surrogate and will develop into a genetic clone of the adult donor
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
