Cloning

Question 1

What is cloning?

Answer 1

• the processes used to create an exact genetic copy of another gene, cell, tissue or organism
• the copied material, the clone, has the same genetic makeup as the original

Question 2

What are the different nuclear transfer techniques?

Answer 2

1. embryonic nuclear transfer
2. non-embryonic nuclear transfer (somatic cell transfer)

Question 3

What does the process of embryonic nuclear transfer use?

Answer 3

• cells taken directly from early embryos

Question 4

What can embryonic nuclear transfer produce?

Answer 4

• many transgenic animals with very precise genetic qualities as rapidly and cheaply as possible
• many clones from a single female to conserve animals nearing extinction
• early embryos from which stem cells can be isolated for use in tissue and cell engineering

Question 5

What does the process of ‘somatic cell nuclear transfer’ SCNT involve?

Answer 5

• scientists transfer genetic material from the nucleus of a donor adult cell
• to an egg whose nucleus, and this its genetic material, has been removed
• an electric pulse is used to combine the dormant donor cell and the recipient egg cell
• after reaching a suitable stage, the embryo is transferred to the uterus of a female host
• the resulting offspring is a clone of the somatic cell donor

Question 6

Why is the procedure of a somatic cell nuclear transfer so significant?

Answer 6

• it proved that the genetic material from a specialised adult cell could be reprogrammed into an embryonic state
• to generate an entire new organism

Question 7

What is the most controversial aspect of cloning?

Answer 7

• the potential to clone humans
• which creates enormous moral and ethical concerns

Question 8

What could cloning humans result in, in terms of specific groups?

Answer 8

• the creation of groups of people for specific purposes
• e.g. warfare or slavery

Question 9

What could cloning humans result in, in terms of perceived improvement?

Answer 9

• attempts to improve the human race according to an arbitrary standard

Question 10

What could cloning humans result in, in terms of harvesting?

Answer 10

• clones being created for the sole purpose of using their organs and tissues for transplants

Question 11

What could cloning humans result in, in terms of deaths?

Answer 11

• the death of many embryos and newborns because the techniques have not been perfected

Question 12

What does cloning negatively reduce?

Answer 12

• reduces genetic diversity by reducing the gene pool
• weakening a population’s ability to adapt to its surroundings