| Revision as of 20:27, 31 October 2001 edit129.128.164.xxx (talk)mNo edit summary | Revision as of 14:56, 8 November 2001 edit undoMagnus Manske (talk | contribs)Administrators24,423 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| '''Cloning''' is the process of creating |
'''Cloning''' is the process of creating an identical copy of an original. | ||
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| * Cloning a gene means to extract a gene from one organism ( |
* Cloning a gene means to extract a gene from one organism (for example, by ]) and to insert it into a second organism (usually via a ]), where it can be used and studied. | ||
| * Cloning an organism means to create a new organism with the |
* Cloning an organism means to create a new organism with the same genetic information as an existing one. This can be done by removing the ] from an ] cell and replacing it with a nucleus extracted from some cell of the organism to be cloned (currently, both the egg cell and its transplanted nucleus must be from the same species). As the nucleus contains (almost) all of the genetic information of a lifeform, the "host" egg cell will develop into an organism genetically identical to the nucleus "donor". | ||
| :This technique has been successfully performed on several species, such as ]s, ] and ] (the most famous example being |
:This technique has been successfully performed on several species, such as ]s, ], ], and ] (the most famous example being the sheep "]"). Many people believe that attempts to perform ] would be unethical, but some scientists have publicly announced their intention to do so. Some believe the Chinese may have already done so. | ||
| The ] have announced that they intend to practice human cloning, and have |
The ] have announced that they intend to practice human cloning, and have a list of candidates; their intention is to produce human immortality by cloning and uploading the personalities into the clone. There does not currently exist any method for doing this, nor do many scientist think it will possible in the near future, so Raelites are not generally taken seriously. | ||
| :''See also :'' ] | |||
Revision as of 14:56, 8 November 2001
Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of an original.
In biology, cloning refers either to copying a single gene, or a whole organism.
- Cloning a gene means to extract a gene from one organism (for example, by PCR) and to insert it into a second organism (usually via a vector), where it can be used and studied.
- Cloning an organism means to create a new organism with the same genetic information as an existing one. This can be done by removing the nucleus from an egg cell and replacing it with a nucleus extracted from some cell of the organism to be cloned (currently, both the egg cell and its transplanted nucleus must be from the same species). As the nucleus contains (almost) all of the genetic information of a lifeform, the "host" egg cell will develop into an organism genetically identical to the nucleus "donor".
- This technique has been successfully performed on several species, such as frogs, mice, sheep, and cattle (the most famous example being the sheep "Dolly"). Many people believe that attempts to perform human cloning would be unethical, but some scientists have publicly announced their intention to do so. Some believe the Chinese may have already done so.
The Raelites have announced that they intend to practice human cloning, and have a list of candidates; their intention is to produce human immortality by cloning and uploading the personalities into the clone. There does not currently exist any method for doing this, nor do many scientist think it will possible in the near future, so Raelites are not generally taken seriously.
- See also : Human cloning