The phrase cloning refers to a genetically identical copy(1). Cloning implies many different terms in science. It may refer to molecular cloning, cellular cloning, embryo twinning, and somatic cell nuclear transfer, also known as SCNT. All involve different processes, different intended outcomes, and different purposes. “Somatic cell nuclear transfer is the process of taking the nucleus of an adult cell and implanting it in an egg cell where the nucleus has been removed(2).” SCNT was used to produce the first cloned mammal from an adult cell, named Dolly.
On July 5, 1996, a lamb was born. This lamb was the face of change and new discoveries in genetic history. With the help of his colleagues, Ian Wilmut successfully cloned a lamb. All this was happening without the world knowing this significant change. After PPL Therapeutics (The funding corporation that backed Wilmut’s research) got an approval of a patent for its cloning, they released their research. On February 24, 1997, the front page of every newspaper carried a story about a lamb named, “Dolly”. These techniques made apparent that it might be applied to humans(2).
With SCNT being a fairly new technological advancement, uses of SCNT are widely being tested in animals and used.
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Currently, there are more than twenty different species cloned by SCNT techniques. However, not all of the offspring survived long-term. The advantages SCNT offered for the breeding over desired genomes.”Animal genetics companies that sell semen and embryos for genetic improvement of dairy and beef herds could take advantage of SCNT to expand their products(4)” Clones of these desired animals produced by SCNT can extend the reproductive output potential(4). These massed produced animals in turn can be used to grow the dairy and meat industry.
Another potential use of SCNT in animals is Disease resistant animal production. According to the International Journal of Science, cloned cows born to be resistant to Mad Cow Disease also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). BSE is noted to be caused by prions. More than 130 people, most from Great Britain, have died because of BSE. The disease crossed over humans which was found in 1996. In today’s society, many officials keep BSE out of human food by monitoring slaughterhouses and cows.
However, Korean researchers led by Woo-Suk Hwang claim that their cloned caves could make BSE no longer exist. They announced the births in November of the four cloned calves on December 10, 2003. With more testing needed, the calves were sent to Tsukuba, Japan. There they were given feed that contained BSE(5). Along with this research countless other claims of disease resistant animals have been made since using SCNT cloning. Years in the future regulated disease resistant clones can help wipe out harmful diseases.
Another use of SCNT technology is saving endangered species. According to Dr. Robert Lanza, about 100 species go extinct a day. Besides the term cloning and endangered species being combined in a sentence, successful SCNT has not been described fully and very little reports of vitro embryo development exist. In Dr. Robert Lanza’s article, “Cloning of an Endangered Species (Bos gaurus) Using Interspecies Nuclear Transfer,” he describes using SCNT to save an endangered species. He used somatic cells from a guar bull, a type of large wild ox on the verge of extinction, and electrofusing them with egg cells from domestic cows. Of those cells only a small percentage, 12%, developed to the blastocyst stage, and then, from there, only 18% of those developed to the fetal stage. Three of the fetuses were voluntarily removed after 46 to 56 days and two continued longer than 180 days. After tests were run, the guar nuclei were shown to have normal fetal development. These results suggest that SCNT can be used to save endangered species and restore extinct species(6). A future example of this is the ongoing process to save the Northern White Rhinos species. Currently there are no more males in existence and only two females. With the help of SCNT, the Northern White Rhino species could be saved.
With SCNT considered to be a relatively new biological technology, the advantages and disadvantages are still under careful research.
SCNT can be used to create embryonic stem cells. The embryonic stem cells are recognized by scientific literature and NIH. The key properties these cells provide mean they can be changed into any type of cell in the body. This means they could be the basis for research on cures and remedy for diseases. However, the cells, today, available are insufficient because they are not racially or ethnically diverse, they do not provide a complete examination of the genetic causes of disease, and more cell lines are needed(7).
Therapeutic cloning, the process of using SCNT for stem cells, has numerous potential effects on the human species. When used with gene therapy, SCNT can help cure genetic disorders. When used for cell replacement therapy, a permanent treatment of Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and numerous more. It could even solve immune rejection and organ shortages for transplants. However the moral ethical considerations, legal constraints, and scientific difficulties prove to be major roadblocks on using SCNT on humans.
Reproductively seems to provide the biggest ethical and legal issue. In fact, in The Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine, created by the Council of Europe in 1997, article 18 states, “the creation of human embryos for research is prohibited.” The Protocol of Cloning was signed by 19 European countries bans reproductive cloning. In the U.S human cloning is also banned. Asia has the highest legal permission because the generation of human ntESC that is connected to SCNT is legal. Australia is also considering to follow the Asian movement and legalize genetic chimerism that use human DNA(8).
SCNT is widely used around the world. Ever since the birth of Dolly the sheep, scientists and researchers have seen the numerous potential advancements that can be made using SCNT. Numerous companies, for example, RNL Bio of South Korea, US-based BioArts, and Kheiron of Argentina, have been established around the world that offer cloning technology. Cloning is very important to the animal-breeding industry. For example cloned ponies are sold at huge prices, upwards to $800,000, at auction in Argentina. The Fédération Equestre Internationale lifted the ban on cloned horses competing in competitions in 2012. Another example, is the two big things that occured in 2008.
One of the things that happened was the first orders for commercial dog cloning. This was completed by RNL and BioArts. The second thing that happened was that the US Food and Drug Administration determined that the meat and offspring that originated from clones are acceptable for human consumption. Equivalent conclusions have been agreed on by the European Food Safety Authority, but the use of cloned animals for food production in Europe is substantial objection. The use of cloned animals are more accepted and common in Asia and the US.
Frozen SCNT is more cost effective for bio-banking of endangered species than storing of sperm or eggs. It can be deployed quickly in emergency situations because of the technique. It also recovers all of the genetic forms of the donor except for half of the genetic forms when using sperm. SCNT cloning is now common in farming animals. It is used in some countries, which include the US, Argentina, and Brazil. SCNT is, now, also included by major veterinary genetics and animal biotechnology textbooks(9).
