Cloning

Cloning is the process of making identical copies of an organism, cell, or DNA sequence. Molecular cloning is a process by which scientists amplify a desired DNA sequence. The target sequence is isolated, inserted into another DNA molecule (known as a vector), and introduced into a suitable host cell. Then, each time the host cell divides, it replicates the foreign DNA sequence along with its own DNA. Cloning also can refer to asexual reproduction.

Human clones exist naturally. Identical twins

There are three different types of cloning:

- Gene cloning, which creates copies of genes or segments of DNA- Reproductive cloning, which creates copies of whole animals- Therapeutic cloning, which creates embryonic stem cells. Researchers hope to use

these cells to grow healthy tissue to replace injured or diseased tissues in the human body.

Why cloning:- Reproduction- Reviving endangered species- stem cells for organ donations

The development of cloning technology has led to new ways to produce medicines and is improving our understanding of development and genetics.

Cloning animal - Dolly the Sheep The first artically cloned animal was Dolly the Sheep.

Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal to be artificially cloned and was born in 1996 in England and died in 2003. She was produced at the Roslin Institute as part of research into producing medicines in the milk of farm animals. Researchers have managed to transfer human genes that produce useful proteins into sheep and cows, so that they can produce, for instance, the blood clotting agent factor IX to treat haemophilia or alpha-1-antitrypsin to treat cystic fibrosis and other lung conditions. Inserting these genes into animals is a difficult and laborious process; cloning allows researchers to only do this once and clone the resulting transgenic animal to build up a breeding stock.

Ethical Issues

Animal cloning raises ethical issues about how far humans should be allowed to interfere in the production of new life. Regulations currently restrict scientific research into human cloning.

Cloning plants is easier than cloning animals. Cloning expensive food crops has been carried out for many years. This causes the public fewer ethical and moral concerns than animal cloning.

Cloning plants

- Spider plants grow new plants, called plantlets, on their stems- Potato plants produce tubers (the part we eat), which can grow new roots and shoots- Strawberry plants grow stems called runners, which have plantlets on them

Cuttings

The simplest way to clone a plant involves taking a cutting. A branch from the parent plant is cut off, its lower leaves removed and the stem planted in damp compost. Plant hormones are often used to encourage new roots to develop. The cutting is usually covered in a clear plastic bag at this stage to keep it moist and warm. After a few weeks, new roots develop and a new plant is produced. The method is easy enough for most gardeners to do successfully.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cloning allows growers to mass produce plants that may be difficult to grow from seed. All the plants are genetically identical, which is useful because you can be sure of their characteristics. On the other hand, the lack of genetic variation means that if the plants become exposed to disease or to changes in environmental conditions, all of them will be affected.

REFERENCES/ CREDITS

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary=cloninghttp://www.animalresearch.info/en/medical-advances/diseases-research/cystic-fibrosis/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cloning.htmlhttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cloning/whyclone/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/living_growing/cloningrev1.shtml

RolesBasil - Researcher + Video editor Ernest - Researcher + Video editor Linus - Researcher + Video editor + Script writerAdrian - Researcher + Video editor + Voice

Video plan:

Introduction - Why, How

How to clone an animal - Dolly the sheep

Cloning Plant - Spider plants, Potato plants, Strawberry plants

Advantages and Disadvantages of cloning

Credit

Roles

Script

Introduction

In recent times, one of the many areas of research that scientists are looking into is cloning. Cloning is the process of making identical copies of an organism, cell, or DNA sequence. Even now, scientists are still finding new ways to improve the practicality of cloning, although cloning animals is less common, new advances in research in organ transplants are constantly being made.

How to clone an animal - Dolly the sheep (Linus)

Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal to be artificially cloned and was born in 1996 in England and died in 2003. Researchers have managed to transfer human genes that produce useful proteins into sheep and cows, so that they can produce, for instance, the blood clotting agent factor IX to treat haemophilia or antitrypsin to treat cystic fibrosis and other lung conditions. Inserting these genes into animals is a difficult and laborious process; cloning allows researchers to only do this once and clone the resulting transgenic animal to build up a breeding stock.

Cloning Plant - Spider plants, Potato plants, Strawberry plants

Cloning a plant is simpler. The simplest way to clone a plant involves taking a cutting. A branch from the parent plant is cut off, its lower leaves removed and then the stem planted

in damp compost. Plant hormones are often used to help new roots to develop. The cutting is usually covered in a clear plastic bag at this stage to keep it moist and warm. After a few weeks, new roots develop and a new plant is produced. The method is easy enough for most gardeners to do successfully.

Advantages and Disadvantages of cloning

Cloning allows growers to mass produce plants and animals that may be difficult to grow from seeds or breed and reproduce quickly . All the plants are genetically identical, which means they have the desired characteristics. On the other hand, the lack of genetic variation means that if the plants become exposed to disease or to changes in environmental conditions, all of them will be affected and this will lead to less variation, and less opportunity to create new varieties in the future.

Credits

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary=cloninghttp://www.animalresearch.info/en/medical-advances/diseases-research/cystic-fibrosis/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cloning.htmlhttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cloning/whyclone/http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/living_growing/cloningrev1.shtml

Basil - Researcher + Video editor Ernest - Researcher + Video editor Linus - Researcher + Video editor + Script writerAdrian - Researcher + Video editor + Voice

The end DA DA !