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MAKING THE CASE FOR CLONING & XENOTRANSPLANTATION
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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. This process of Nuclear Transfer soon allows for the newly introduced embryonic cell to dictate the growth and maturity of the new organism without sexual reproduction ever occurring. The result, at birth, is a clone. In examining the cloning process and its importance to modern day scientists, the idea of Xenotransplantation must be considered. Xenotransplantation is the transfer of organs and tissue from one unrelated species to another. It is another method of animal cloning that may be used to help humans in need of healthy and functioning organs. A global shortage of human organ donors has sparked a great deal of research and investigation into xenotransplantation.
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