Animal Cloning: Beneficial to Humans
Today’s technology develops so quickly that many impossible things become true; the example is cloning technology. Cloning is a process used to create an exact copy of a mammal by using the complete genetic material of a regular body cell. Different from the common propagate, cloning needs only one cell and without sex. Cloning, as of recent years, has become a very controversial issue in society but cloning can have several positive effects for the well being of society. Many people in society believe that scientists should develop a clone human but many people and especially the government are against human cloning. Hundreds of cloned animals exist today including sheep, goats, cows, mice, pigs, cats, rabbits, and a gaur. In the last 50 years, techniques such as in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, embryo splitting, and blastomeric nuclear transfer have become commonplace — providing farmers, ranchers and pet enthusiasts with powerful tools for breeding the best animals. Attempts at cloning certain species have been unsuccessful. For example, “Dolly”, first cloned sheep was the only lamb that survived to adulthood from 277 attempts. However, scientists have found many benefits to animal cloning which can be very significant to be the future of science benefitting humans. Studies show that, in order for animal cloning to be successful, many steps are necessary. There are three common ways of cloning animals. First one is called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)- The term somatic cell nuclear transfer refers to the transfer of the nucleus from a somatic cell to an egg cell. A somatic cell is any cell of the body other than a germ (sex) cell. An example of a somatic cell would be a blood cell, heart cell, skin cell, etc. In this process, the nucleus of a somatic cell is removed and inserted into an unfertilized egg that has had its nucleus removed. The
Cited: Bio Science Production. 2002-2003. 21 October 2003. * Wilmut, Ian. "Cloning Can Help Humans and Animals." Cloning. Minnesota. 2003 Pg