Reproductive cloning

Definition

Reproductive cloning is a technique used to generate an organism that has the same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing organism. It involves creating a cloned embryo, which is then implanted into a surrogate mother to develop normally and result in a genetically identical individual.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The most famous example of reproductive cloning is Dolly the sheep, cloned in 1996.
2. Reproductive cloning involves techniques such as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
3. Cloned animals can suffer from more health problems and shorter lifespans compared to naturally bred animals.
4. Reproductive cloning raises significant ethical, moral, and legal concerns worldwide.
5. Despite technological advances, reproductive cloning remains inefficient with high rates of failure during embryonic development stages.

Review Questions

Related terms

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT): A method for creating a viable embryo from an egg cell and a body cell by transferring the nucleus of the somatic cell into the egg cell after removing its nucleus.

Therapeutic Cloning: A form of cloning aimed at harvesting stem cells from cloned embryos for use in medical treatments rather than producing complete organisms.

Genetic Engineering: The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology to alter genetic makeup.