What Is the Cloning?

What Is Cloning?

o Cloning is a complex process in which the exact DNA is replicated and a complete reproduction of an organism is re-created. A cell from the body of an adult donor (also called a somatic cell) is placed into a culture dish and allowed to grow. At a point in the growth process, reproduction is stopped. The somatic cell is then fused with an egg in which the nucleus has been removed, assuring that no additional chromosomes, and therefore, no DNA, are added to the process. The fused cells then begin to grow and divide over and over again in the culture dish. Once it is able to sustain itself, this early e mbryo is moved to the uterus of the surrogate mother and allowed to develop until it reaches its full potential.

How Can Cloning Help Diseases?

o Many researchers and scientists throughout the world are currently developing and studying cloning, including researchers at the American Heart Association. The research value of cloning is that it can help produce "transgenic clones" or "transgenic species," meaning that one species carries the genes of another species.

One example that is regularly practiced is the transgenic clones of female cattle, sheep or goats. During this process, the cloned animals are genetically designed to be "dairy pharmaceutical producers." Here, they are able to produce, among other things, milk with a human clotting factor to treat people with hemophilia, milk with insulin to treat people with diabetes, and milk with interferon to treat viral infections. Transgenic clones also can be used to develop tissue to transplant into humans to treat diseases, and to help preserve endangered species.

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The Future of Cloning

o Human cloning is currently outlawed by international law, however the cloning of animals has been practiced for several years. In the future, scientists hope to develop organs for transplantation to humans or other animals. Scientists also hope to one day genetically design animals that have certain human diseases to study and create remedies and cures.

However, scientists and lawmakers across the globe are cautious about the implications of a human clone in the future. The possibility of creating a complete DNA replication of another human raises many ethical questions about a "primary" race or desired features.