THERAPEUTIC CLONING

Therapeutic Cloning

Therapeutic Cloning

Scientific Basis of Therapeutic Cloning

Therapeutic cloning is a type of cloning which is primarily done for the purpose of research. The procedure of therapeutic cloning is known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). The somatic cell is considered to be any cell within the body that is other than the sperm or egg cell. They are also known to be the precursors of the sperm or egg cells. Brain cells, blood cells and skin cells are all considered as somatic cells. All the somatic cells in the body possess DNA that is organized in chromosomes. Due to the presence of complete chromosomes in each somatic cell, they possess unique characteristics in each individual within the nucleus. In the procedure of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), the egg is taken from the donor female; removing the nucleus provides space for the insertion of nucleus with the somatic cells.

These cells are put into the empty egg along with the DNA. Putting simply, the Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) refers to the technique of transferring the nucleus of the somatic cell within the empty egg. The impregnation of the egg along with complete 46 chromosomes from previously present genome is tricked then. By doing so, the empty egg has been fertilized. Due to the process of putting somatic cell with all the 46 chromosomes, the empty egg is transformed into the fertilized egg. Through this process, the division of cells begins and thus the clone is created. In this whole process of embryo cloning, the embryo that was cloned is destroyed so that the harvested cells could be obtained and used for research. It can be used for studying the process of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT).

The important purpose of the therapeutic cloning is the regeneration and providing direction to the differentiation of the specified cell lines of the patients. This differentiation is mainly performed for isolating the particular patient cell from the embryo; that is not intended for transfer into the utero.

If we analyse the picture above; it shows a pictorial represenation of therapeutic cloning. As indicated above, the female cells go thorough a defined process before the achievement of the end result. In therapeutic cloning, the cells obtained from the body i.e. muscle, hair or skin lose their nucleus (the central part of the cell). In the next step, the clonal zygote is fomed which breaks into the clonal embryo leading to the development of the cloned baby.

Investigations Made Possible by Therapeutic Cloning

The investigation of the therapeutic cloning has greatly contributed in the development of reproductive and regenerative medicines along with the development of gene therapy through the delivery of genes. The therapeutic cloning with respect to the (SCNT) possesses great potential for clinical and research applications. The research and clinical application includes the development of human diseases with respect to the animal models, regenerative medicine and its cell replacement therapy along with the effectiveness of the (SCNT) therapeutic cloning has given rise to ...