What exactly is Cloning? Is there likely to be problems associated with it? Is it possible that it has any benefits at all?This is the type of questions people tend to ask each other about cloning

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CLONING

What exactly is Cloning? Is there likely to be problems associated with it? Is it possible that it has any benefits at all?

This is the type of questions people tend to ask each other about cloning.

Here are some facts about it.

Cloning is the process of asexually producing a group of cells (clones), all genetically identical, from a single ancestor. It is the scientific process of producing an exact duplicate of a gene, cell or organism.

Cloning requires an egg cell, and an adult donor cell. The (unwanted chromosomes are removed from the egg and discarded. The nucleus, containing the DNA to be cloned, is removed from the donor cell, then the donor nucleus is inserted into the empty egg cell, a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).Afterwards the egg contains a full (adult) set of chromosomes as if it had been fertilised normally. A pulse of electricity, or a chemical 'shock', kick-starts the development process, and the embryo begins to grow. Cell division begins. The subsequent development of the embryo depends upon how successfully the donor nucleus has 're-programmed' the egg.

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It was first heard from Scientists in Scotland that they had successfully cloned a sheep called ‘Dolly’, who was the first mammal to be reproduced identically from an adult cell rather than from the embryo.  She was born on the 5th of July 1996. Since then Scientist have been going further with their research. 

The picture of the cloned ‘Dolly the sheep’

Cloning might seem successful, but there are some problems with the experiment. Even the successful ones develop problems later on like during the animals development to childhood.

Cloned animals tend to have more ...

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