1. IB SL BIOLOGY: Cloning AND YOU
Colin McKay

2. Essential Definitions
Cloning
Producing identical copies of genetic material
Genes, chromosomes, cells can be cloned
Does not need to be done by humans
Clone
Any product of cloning
Occurs frequently in nature
Does not apply to humans or animals alone

3. Techniques for Cloning
Cells taken from cloning target
Cells are rendered dormant
Unfertilized egg extracted from donor
Egg’s nucleus is removed
Target cell and ‘enucleated’ egg are fused
Embryo grows and divides
Embryo is implanted into surrogate mother
Host mother gives birth to cloned infant

4. Applications of Cloning - reproductive
Reproductive Cloning
Naturally occurs: identical twins, triplets, etc.
Can lead to sterile or deformed clones
Can be used to resurrect species1
Goal is to literally ‘reproduce’ target

5. Plant and Animal Cloning
Plants and fungi are usually easy to clone
Stem or leaf can grow into another adult
Self-pollination
Animals are usually more difficult to clone
Usually can only occur during embryonic phase
First successful cloned animal was Dolly the sheep2
Dolly died of lung disease and arthritis; possibly unrelated
Dolly died at half her expected age

6. Applications of Cloning - Therapeutic
Therapeutic cloning
Naturally occurs: mitosis, adult stem cells
Can be used to cure type 1 diabetes
Can lead to cancerous or deformed cells
Goal is to heal target

7. Therapeutic Cloning in Humans
FOR
AGAINST
Can be used for therapies that save lives and end suffering
Cells can be removed from embryos that will stop developing
Cells can be removed before embryos have any nerves to interpret pain
Every human embryo is a potential human being with the right to develop
More embryos can be produced than needed, wasting potential human life entirely
Embryonic stem cells have a higher chance of mutating or becoming cancerous

8. Basic Genome Information
Genome Definition
The genetic material of an organism
DNA or RNA, depending on organism
Includes both genes and non-coding sequences
Human Genome
Originally estimated at ~25,000-30,000 genes
Number continues to shrink
Now estimated to be ~20,000-25,000 genes3

9. HUMAN GENOME PROJECT A multi-national initiative Goal Outcomes
To find and define every gene
Gene is ‘found’ by attributing it a locus
Gene is ‘identified by listing its base sequence
Outcomes
Easier to study how genes influence human development
Easier identification of new diseases
Production of new gene-specific drugs
New insight into origins, evolution, migration of humans

10. Bibliography - Images http://carboncostume.com/agent-smith/

11. Bibliography - Further Reading
Gray, Richard, and Roger Dobson. "Extinct Ibex Is Resurrected by Cloning."       The Telegraph. Last modified January 31, Accessed April 19, 2015.        Extinct-ibex-is-resurrected-by-cloning.html.
Animal Research Info. "Cloning Dolly the Sheep." AnimalResearch.info. Accessed       April 19,      cloning-dolly-the-sheep/. 
Macmillan Publishers. "Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome."       Nature.      nature03001.html.