Module 7 Lesson 5 - 4

Cloning

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After a transgenic organism is produced, scientists usually want to produce more of that organism. Developing a transgenic organism is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. For a herd of transgenic organisms to be produced, scientists could wait many generations or they can use cloning techniques to produce "copies" of the transgenic organism. Cloning techniques allow for the production of hundreds of transgenic organisms in just one generation.

Cloning an organism uses specific somatic (body) cells from the genetic donor (animal intended for cloning) and transplants the nuclei of these cells into the egg cells (with nuclei removed) of another organism. The resulting embryos are implanted into a surrogate mother.

Read more about the cloning process on pages 655 and 656 in your textbook.

Visit University of Utah - Genetic Science Learning Centre   website for more information.

 

Try This

Watch the simulation of Clone Mimi the Mouse from the University of Utah below to remember the steps involved in cloning an organism.

 

Gene Replacement Therapy

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Read pages 660 - 661

Replacing defective genes in humans is a new way to prevent and/or treat genetic disorders. This new therapy is called gene replacement therapy. This type of therapy attacks the cause of the disorder instead of treating the symptoms. Most of the research trials have concentrated on treating somatic cells (somatic gene therapy). This type of treatment can improve the health of only the individual patient. A more controversial therapy, germ-line therapy, modifies the genetic information in the egg and sperm cells and could eliminate the disorder in offspring. Currently, germ-line therapy is banned in Canada.

Read more about gene therapy, the use of DNA vectors to alter the genetic material in humans, and the controversy surrounding this new form of treatment on pages 660 and 661 of your textbook.