Cloning involves producing genetically identical individuals through recombinant DNA technology and molecular cloning techniques. There are several types of cloning including DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning uses somatic cell nuclear transfer to generate an animal with the same nuclear DNA as another existing or previously existing animal. Therapeutic cloning produces human embryos for stem cell research to study development and treat diseases. While cloning research has potential benefits, there are also significant health and ethical risks involved especially for reproductive cloning in humans.

1. Cloning Dr. Abdelsalam Talafha, DVM Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists

2. Cloning Production of genetically identical individuals that have identical nuclear DNA

3. Cloning Technologies Recombinant DNA technology DNA cloning Molecular cloning Gene cloning Reproductive cloning Therapeutic cloning Embryo cloning

4. DNA Cloning Transfer of a DNA fragment of interest from one organism to a self-replicating genetic element such as a bacterial plasmid Plasmids Self-replicating extra-chromosomal circular DNA molecules, distinct from normal bacterial genome

5. DNA Cloning - Uses Gene therapy Genetic engineering of organisms Genome sequencing

6. Reproductive Cloning A technology used to generate an animal that has same nuclear DNA as another currently or previously existing animal Dolly How Is Reproductive Cloning Done? Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)

7. SCNT Starts with removal of polar body and chromosomes from an oocyte Enucleated oocyte Donor cell then inserted into perivitelline space of enucleated oocyte

8. SCNT Oocyte and donor cell are fused and activated by an electric pulse to begin cell division Developed embryos transferred to surrogate females Birth of an individual

17. SCNT Sources of somatic cells Cell from individual Cells grown in culture Frozen tissue

18. Therapeutic Cloning Production of human embryos for use in research Goal To harvest stem cells that can be used to study human development and to treat disease

19. Therapeutic Cloning Stem cells Cells have ability to divide and give rise to both specialized cells and more stem cells Derived from Adults Preimplantation embryos (Embryonic stem cells)

20. Stem Cells Replacement cells to treat Heart disease Alzheimer's Cancer Diabetes Parkinson's disease Spinal cord injury

21. SCNT- Potential Biotechnological Applications Harvesting donor cells from transgenic animal Genetic modification of cultured donor cells prior to nuclear transfer Producing genetically modified cloned offspring

22. Genetically Modified Cloned Offspring Biotechnological applications Production of pharmaceuticals Xenotransplantation Study and eradication of human disease Improvement of livestock

23. Production Of Pharmaceuticals Gene expressing human coagulation factor IX introduced into ovine fetal fibroblasts linked to another gene with a high level of expression in mammary gland Protein expressed in milk

24. Production Of Pharmaceuticals Insulin for diabetes Interferon for viral infections Tissue plasminogen activator (which dissolves blood clots)

25. Xenotransplantation Aim: To develop animals whose organs will not cause an immunological response and destroy transplanted tissue when transferred to humans

26. Xenotransplantation Pig organs Hearts, lungs, kidneys, liver Neural tissue for Parkinson's Islets cells for diabetes patients

27. Study Human Disease Sheep model to investigate human cystic fibrosis Cloned sheep used for drug testing and to evaluate new therapies

28. Improvement Of Livestock Cloning animal with excellent traits Production of a large number of clones from high quality animals Allow overall genetic improvement of herd Repopulate endangered animals

29. Animal Cloning Sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, and mice Cloning efforts in rabbits, rats, cats, dogs, and horses are ongoing

30. Risks Of Cloning Reproductive cloning expensive and highly inefficient > 90% of cloning attempts fail to produce viable offspring

31. Risks Of Cloning High rate of fetal loss during pregnancy Compromised immune function Higher rates of infection Tumor growth Early neonatal death Abnormally large at birth Die mysteriously

32. Risks Of Cloning Cloned fetuses have abnormalities Abnormal placentation Pregnancy toxemia Hydroallantois

33. Should Humans Be Cloned? Due to Inefficiency of animal cloning Lack of understanding about reproductive cloning Risks of cloning

34. Should Humans Be Cloned? Unethical to attempt to clone humans Same problems would be expected in human cloning We do not know how cloning could impact mental development

35. Should Humans Be Cloned? High risk to health of fetus or infant and mother Psychological risks for mother as a result of Late spontaneous abortions Birth of a stillborn child Birth of a child with severe health problems