MAKING THE CASE FOR CLONING & XENOTRANSPLANTATION

Cloning involves the scientific process of producing duplicate copies of genes and organisms by nonsexual methods. It involves mitotic cell division in which a new organism eventually results as a genetically identical replica of the original DNA donor. The cloning process takes a donor body cell (with a nucleus) and nurtures it in low nutrient conditions to the point where the body cell division stops. Then, an unfertilized maternal egg cell is taken and its nucleus is removed, therefore leaving cytoplasm and organelles, but no chromosomes. Following this step, the DNA donor (diploid) cell and unfertilized egg cell are either fused together by an electric pulse that eventually initiates a mitotic division or the donor DNA is microinjected within the egg. As the cell divides, an early embryo is formed; this embryo is maintained in a culture dish for several days. During this period, the embryo develops into a hollow ball of cells and is implanted into a surrogate mother’s uterus. Th...