Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

Cloning

Aulanni’amBiochemistry LaboratoryChemistry DepartmentBrawijaya University

aulani@brawijaya.ac.id

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

Questions and Answers…..or just questions?

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

• Cloning is a method of producing a baby that has almost the same genetic make-up as its parent.

• Cloning is a new, and highly experimental technology, with many supporters as well as many adversaries.

• Cloning is not a way to make full-size carbon copies of animals or people.

• Cloning will not produce armies of look-alike robot people or monsters

• Cloning will not bring back Rover or your dead Aunt Millie.

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

• The nucleus, with its chromosomes’ DNA, is removed from an egg.

• A nucleus from the cell of an adult donor is then inserted into this “empty” egg.

• The egg is stimulated (electronically or chemically) to trick it into behaving like a fertilized egg.

• The now dividing egg, or embryo, is transferred into the uterus of a surrogate mother.

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

or

What do I think?

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

Good News

• Scientists are working on the development of replacement tissues and organs for transplants; patients would not reject organs cloned from their own bodies

• Cloning technology may help us find a cure for cancer.

• Couples who are unble to have children physically or because of genetic problems may be able to clone offspring.

• Cloning of livestock high producers may ease world food shortages.

• Medicines like insulin can be produced by cloned cells in animals

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2

Bad News• What if the ability to

clone is abused? Could the wrong people use it to “program” traits like aggression or impulsiveness?

• How safe is it? Could clones have serious physical abnormalities or mental or emotional problems?

• What about genetic variation? Eventually, will there not be enough variation in genes to produce healthy organisms by natural reproduction (as in inbreeding)?

• What about the human soul and uniqueness as a person?

Aulani " GE" Presentation 2