Reproductive

Cloning
By Kiyo T IB2-10

4.4.12 Outline a technique for

cloning using differentiated
animal cells.
Differentiated animal cells means that the cells that
are used have already differentiated and lost their
function as stem cells
Clone - a group of genetically identical organisms or
a group of cells derived from a single parent cell.
In reproductive cloning, the whole genetic code
except the mitochondrial DNA is reproduced from a
single parent cell.
The most common reproductive cloning technique is
somatic cell nuclear transfer, (SCNT) using
differentiated animal cells.

SCNT (Somatic cell nuclear

transfer)

The nucleus removed from the oocyte leaving behind all

other cellular components such as the mitochondria and
cytoplasm
the DNA of a differentiated body/somatic cell is
extracted from the nucleus of the cell and is inserted
into the egg cell (which now lacks a nucleus)
After chemical/electrical stimulation, the cell will be
induced to divide, starting the development of an
embryo
After a few days, the dividing embryo is placed into the
womb of a recipient/surrogate and allowed to develop to
term
The offspring will be a clone, the genetic duplicate of the
individual from whom the original body cell DNA was
taken
Success of the somatic nuclear transfer in some

Dolly the Sheep

(1996)

An unfertilized egg is taken from another sheep and the

nucleus of the egg cell is removed by a micropipette
(Enucleated egg)
Differentiated cells taken from udder cells (cells of the
mammary glands) of a donor sheep
cells were cultured in a low nutrient medium to make the
genes switch off and become dormant
This is because the udder cells have already
differentiated
After making all the genes switch off, they can then
remove the DNA from the udder cells and insert it into
the enucleated egg.
After electrical stimulation the egg cells were able to
develop into normal zygotes (a ball of cells) which then
developed into embryos
After a few weeks of growth, these embryos were
implanted into another sheep whos role was the

But
although Dolly had exactly the same nuclear
material as her mother
they were not completely genetically identical
The mitochondria has its own DNA which means
that some DNA of the cloned sheep will have the
DNA of the donor sheep egg cell because the
mitochondria was not removed from the egg cell
otherwise the cell would die
In SCNT, the mitochondrial genome is inherited
from the egg so the cloned organism is also a
mitochondrial clone of its egg donor

Summary

Whats the order?

Egg cell taken
from sheep B

Udder
Udder cells
cells taken
taken
from
sheep
from sheep A
A

Egg cell of sheep B

is enucleated

DNA
DNA of
of udder
udder
cells
extracted
cells extracted
DNA
DNA of
of sheep
sheep A
A is
is inserted
inserted
to
the
enucleated
to the enucleated egg
egg cell
cell
of
of sheep
sheep B
B

DNA of sheep A is
inserted to the
enucleated egg
cell of sheep B
An embryo is
formed and place
into the womb of
sheep C
(surrogate)
DNA of udder cells
extracted

Chemical/electrical
Chemical/electrical
stimulation
stimulation causes
causes cells
cells
to
divide
to divide

An
An embryo
embryo is
is formed
formed and
and
placed
into
the
womb
of
placed into the womb of sheep
sheep
C
C (surrogate)
(surrogate)

Offspring, the
clone of sheep A

Chemical/electric
al stimulation
causes cells to
divide
Egg cell taken
from sheep B
Offspring, the
clone of sheep A

References:
Abpischools.org.uk,. (2015). Reproductive cloning - ABPI
- Resources for Schools. Retrieved 21 January 2015,
from
http://www.abpischools.org.uk/page/modules/cloningne
w/typesreproductive.cfm?coSiteNavigation_allTopic=1
Andi Topping, R. Welcome. Bioethics.ac.uk. Retrieved 21
January 2015, from
http://www.bioethics.ac.uk/topics/reproductivecloning.php
Bbc.co.uk,. (2015). BBC - GCSE Bitesize: The stages of
cloning. Retrieved 21 January 2015, from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_
edexcel/cells/cloningrev2.shtml
Ib.bioninja.com.au,. (2015). 4.4 Genetic Engineering
and Biotechnology | BioNinja. Retrieved 21 January
2015, from http://www.ib.bioninja.com.au/standardlevel/topic-4-genetics/44-genetic-engineering-and.html
Ibguides.com,. (2012). IB Biology Notes - 4.4 Genetic
engineering and biotechnology. Retrieved 21 January