Biology 1002B Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, Human Cloning, Demethylase

Question: Think about these questions, and post your thoughts on the use of cloning. Specifically, think the about the use of human cloning and discuss the potential impact on society.

Background Discussion: The scientific research terms, cloning means making exact copies of genes, a cell, or an organism. Therefore, cloning has been around for a long time. Identical twins are clones of a single zygote. When a single bacterium reproduces asexually on a petri dish, a colony of cells results, and each member of the colony is a clone of the original cell. Through biotechnology, bacteria now produce clone copies of human genes.

Through recent advances in science, it is possible to produce a clone of a mammal- and perhaps even one day, a human. The parent need not contribute sperm or egg to the process. During the so-called reproductive cloning, a nucleus (which contains the genetic material of a person) from one adult cell is placed in an enucleated egg. That egg is then allowed to develop. The developing embryo is placed in the uterus of a surrogate mother, and when birth occurs, the clone is an exact genetic copy of the original parent (of course the clone is younger). The process of cloning whole animals, and certainly humans, has not been perfected. Until it is, therapeutic cloning is more likely to become widespread.

Suppose it were possible to put the nucleus from a cell of a burn victim into an enucleated egg that is forced to become skin cells in the laboratory. These cells could be used to provide grafts of new skin that would not be rejected by the recipient. Would this be a proper use of cloning in humans?

Now, suppose parents want to produce a child free of genetic diseases. Scientists produce an embryo though in vitro fertilization, and then they clone the embryo to produce several embryos. Genetic engineering is then used to remove the genetic defect, and the defect free embryos are implanted into the uterus of a surrogate where they are allowed to grow to term. Would this be proper use of cloning in humans?

What if later scientists were able to produce children with increased intelligence or athletic abilities using the same technique? Would this be an acceptable use of cloning in humans?