5.2 Cloning

Clones in Fiction Frau Farbissina: “Send in the clone!” Dr. Evil: “Oh!” Number One: “He is exactly like you in every way, except one-eighth your size.” mi_UTsjtE

Fact… or Myth! You can create instant clones (in other words, if I were to clone a 14-year-old student, the clone would be a genetically identical copy of that 14 year old student)

Misconception #1: Instant Clones

Fact… or Myth! You can create identical clones (in other words, physically appear to be 100% the same)

Misconception #2: Carbon Copies

Fact… or Myth! Scientists can bring back extinct species by cloning them

Misconception #3: Growing Dinosaurs

What is cloning? Cloning = technological process where a genetically identical offspring is produced Purposes: save genetic information of endangered animals, mass production, disease resistance

Two Types of Cloning 1. Reproductive Cloning = adult DNA cloning 2. Therapeutic Cloning = involves stem cells – Stem cells = cells that have the potential to become many different types of cells – Embryonic stem cells have the ability to become any one of 200 cell types in our body because they are not specialized yet

1. Reproductive Cloning Purpose: to produce a genetic duplicate of an existing (or previously existing) organism with desirable qualities Used to clone Dolly Problems: low survival rate

How do you clone an organism?

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Sheep A – egg cell Sheep B – body cell Denucleated egg Nucleus with DNA Reproductive Cloning =implant into surrogate mother Therapeutic Cloning =stem cells grow Into tissue Fused cell Clone of B

2. Therapeutic Cloning Purpose: used to correct health problems by replacing damaged cells in patients with healthy stem cells

Cloning the First Human (BBC) Who has the right to have children, no matter how they are created? Who doesn't? Why? Is human cloning "playing with nature?" If so, how does that compare with other reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization or hormone treatments? Does cloning to create stem cells, also called therapeutic cloning, justify destroying a human embryo? Why, or why not? If a clone originates from an existing person, who is the parent? What are some of the social challenges a cloned child might face? Should cloning research be regulated? How, and by whom?

Homework Questions How would this benefit me, my family and the people around me? Is it OK to do an act that would provide many benefits to the human race despite the fact that it may go against the moral laws? Is Stem Cell Therapy an act of playing God? What will happen if scientists get more creative with Stem Cell Therapy? Should Stem Cell Research be further studied?

Let’s check it out! loning/clickandclone/ loning/clickandclone/