Chapter 2.2 - Animal Cloning

Question 0

What are the two methods of artificially cloning animals

Answer 0

1) embryonic division

2) somatic nuclear transfer

Question 1

What is the name if the cell in animals that are capable of differentiating into any cell and producing a new organism?

Answer 1

Embryonic totipotent stem cells

Question 2

Describe in detail embryonic division

Answer 2

This involves splitting an embryo to create ‘artificial identical twins’. Cells from a developing embryo can be separated out, with each one then going onto produce a separate but genetically identical embryo itself.

Question 3

Describe in detail somatic nuclear transfusion

Answer 3

By transferring a nucleus from a cell into an egg cell which has had it’s own nucleus removed, (enucleated), an egg can go on through the stages of development using genetic information from the inserted nucleus. Dolly the sheep was cloned this way. The cell was taken from the mammary gland from the udder of one sheep and it’s nucleus removed and transferred into the enucleated cell of another sheep, and then inserted into the uterus of a third sheep, and then finally a forth sheep to fully develops.

Question 4

Advantages of cloning animals

Answer 4

The reproduction rate of genetically superior animals increases

The number of animals with a wanted trait rise

The cloned embryo can be sexed or tested for certain diseases before implementation into a surrogate mother

A fertile female of an endangered species is not needed for somatic nuclear transfer.

Question 5

What does non-reproductive cloning involve

Answer 5

It involves using cloned cells to provide new cells, organs and tissues. They would be able to help repair damaged tissues and organs, such as:

1) regenerating heart muscle cells following a heart attack
2) repairing nervous tissue destroyed by diseases such as multiple sclerosis
3) repairing the spinal cords f the paralysed by an accident that resulted in a broken back or neck.

Question 6

Advantages of using cloned cells for non-reproductive cloning

Answer 6

Cells are take from the same organism that they are given to - genetically identical so no chance of rejection.

Could mean an end to the long donor organ waiting lists that exit currently.

Cloned cells are totipotent and so could be used to generate any adult organisms cell type.

Using cloned cells is likely to be less dangerous that major surgery.