Animal Cloning

Question 1

What are the three types of animal cloning

Answer 1

• Natural
• Artificial Embryo Twinning
• Somatic Cell Nuclear transfer

Question 2

Describe the process of AET

Answer 2

• an egg cell is extracted from the animal and fertilised
• the fertilised egg is left to divide, forming an embryo
• individual cells from the embryo are separated and put in another Petri dish
• the embryos are implanted into the animal, to act as the surrogate mother
• the embryos continue to develop inside the surrogate.
• they are all genetically identical

Question 3

Describe the process of SCNT

Answer 3

-a somatic cell is taken from animal A
-nucleus is extracted and kept
-an oocyte (immature egg) is taken from animal B
it’s nucleus is removed to form an enucleated oocyte
-the nucleus from animal A is inserted into the enucleated oocyte
-the nucleus and the enucleated oocyte are fused together by electric shock
-this produces an embryo
-the embryo is implanted into a surrogate mother and a clone will be born

Question 4

Reasons for animal cloning

Answer 4

• research purposes (test drugs)
• save endangered animals
• desirable characteristics

Question 5

Arguments FOR animal cloning

Answer 5

• desirable genetic characteristics
• infertile animals can reproduce
• increase population of endangered species
• cloned at any time

Question 6

Arguments AGAINST animal cloning

Answer 6

• very difficult
• time consuming
• expensive
• no genetic variability
• may not live as long