TOPIC 6: CLONING
Cloning is the process of producing clones or genetically identical copies of a cell, tissue or an organism through asexual reproduction. Animal cloning involves the transfer of the nucleus from a somatic cell to an ovum or embryonic cell which has the nucleus removed. Cloning is a form of asexual reproduction because the organisms produced have the same genetic content and chromosomal number as the parent organism .
The nucleus that directs the development of the offspring comes from a diploid cell produced through mitotic cell division and not through the fusion of gametes produced by meiotic cell division.
1) Cloning allows biotechnologists to multiply copies of useful genes or clones. a) For example, the bacterium Escheria coli has been genetically manipulated to produce the bovine growth hormone. b) The clones of these bacteria can synthesise a large amount of this hormone. c) The hormone can then be injected into cows to increase the quality of their milk. 2) Clones can be produced in a shorter time and in larger numbers. a) In medicine, for example, the Escheria coli strain can be cloned to produce insulin. b) Insulin is a hormone that lowers the level of blood sugar by converting excess glucose into glycogen in the liver. c) Insulin is produced by the pancreas. A lack of insulin can cause diabetes mellitus.
3) Many transgenic crops which are resistant to herbicides, pests and diseases have been created. a) Plants are also engineered to produce high and better quality yields. b) Delayed ripening in tomatoes is another example of the beneficial traits possesed by transgenic plants. This types of tomato appears fresh and firm and has a longer shelf life. c) Transgenic plants can be cloned using the tissue culture technique to produce plantlets with similar resistance to pests and diseases. Farmers are now plantings many of these genetically modified crops. 4) Cloning and tissue culture techniques involve vegetative reproduction which does not need pollinating agents. Thus, propagation can take place at any time without the need for pollination.
1. The long term side effects of using genetically modified viruses and bacterial clones in various field such as medicine and industry are not yet known. 2. The long term effects and safety aspects of releasing bacterial clones to the environment to solve problems related to the environment such as pollination are not yet known. These organism may mutate and become dangerous to the environment and other living organism. 3. Clones do not show any genetic variations. 4. All clones have the same level of resistance towards certain diseases.
5. New clones may undergo natural mutations which can endanger mankind, as well as the environment.
6. Certain transgenic crops contain genes that are resistant to herbicides. These genes may be transferred to weeds through viruses. These weeds could then become resistant to herbicides.
The following three types of cloning technologies will be discussed:
DNA cloning Reproductive cloning Therapeutic cloning.
DNA CLONING
First Cloned Sheep : Dolly
Dolly the Cloned Sheep In 1996 a sheep named Dolly was successfully cloned from a cell of an adult female sheep. This advance proved that adult cells could provide the cloning potential of embryonic cells,enabling scientists to choose the mature individual they
CLONING IN SHEEP
There are 6 stages to form a sheep clone 1) Egg Donar 2) Genetic Donar 3) Fusion of Egg and Nucleus 4) Embryo Development 5) Embryo Impantation 6) Birth of Cloned Sheep
1. Egg Donar
2. Genetic Donar
3. Fusion: Enucleated Cell & Nucleus Fused
4. Embryo Development
5. Embryo Implantation
6. Birth of Cloned Sheep
THERAPEUTIC CLONING
VIDEO