Gene Cloning

Every living organism possesses numerous genes, each one composing a distinct compilation of information and forming unique individuals. Genes are naturally inherited from the parents of each organism and are assigned at birth. Made up of DNA, genes do not change much over a lifetime. Synthetic gene cloning, however, is a fairly new technology that has altered the ways in which genes are traditionally produced.

The replication of genes is an innate system essential to the development of offspring. In the reproductive process, DNA is collected from each parent and, subsequently, replicated in creation. With the exception of sperm and egg, many cells in offspring are clones of those within the parent organisms. In nature, smaller organisms such as yeast and bacteria reproduce by creating exact copies of themselves. Artificial cloning, on the other hand, involves human manipulation and is most commonly used in laboratory experiments, specifically with regard to animal cells. The two main types of animal cloning are therapeutic and reproductive.

Therapeutic replication employs cloning to treat human diseases and disabilities. While this application still undergoes significant research, the goal is to manufacture new and healthy cells to replace the afflicted cells by cloning a patient’s DNA. These new and healthy cells are transplanted into the body, where they take the place of the damaged cells. The body and, more specifically, the immune system accepts these cells as they contain the DNA of the patient. Ailments including Alzheimer’s and spinal cord injuries may be remedied as a result of this type of gene cloning.

Reproductive cloning describes the creation of offspring that are identical to the original animal. This process requires scientists to remove DNA from a cell of the parent animal. Then, they must use the egg from another female animal and remove DNA from the egg cell. Next, they use the DNA from the parent animal and insert it into the empty egg cell, subsequently allowing it to develop into an embryo. Lastly, the embryo is placed within a surrogate who carries the offspring and nurtures their development until birth. Historically, reproductive cloning has had low efficacy rates as cloned embryos often fail to develop. The first successfully cloned mammal was born in 1996 when Scottish scientists, Ian Wilmut and colleagues of the Roslin Institute, designed a female Finn Dorset sheep. Dolly, she was later named, lived from 1996 to 2003 and served as a precedent for the future of genetic replication. Other animals, such as pigs, mice, horses, and dogs, have consequently been subject to gene cloning experiments. Some scientists even attempted to clone humans, which evoked a response from the United Nations, who passed a declaration against this practice for ethical reasons.

Dolly, the first cloned mammal!

Picture Source: britannica.com