Imagine having a twin that looks and acts exactly like you. Even more interesting this twin is a product of scientific cloning. If scientists have their way, identical replicas of human beings will be roaming the earth. This scientific vision may occur a lot more recent then many think. Cloning can be (better) understood by looking at it’s definition, process, and some examples. This first step to better understanding cloning is to hear precisely what it is. Cloning can be defined as an organism or group of organisms derived from nother organism by an asexual reproductive process.
Usually members of a clone are identical in genes (Clarke, 1). Even though the definition is relatively simple, it will be several years before these projects will be technically feasible. Many species are being considered for cloning, but legal battles often halt the complex process (Grossman, 1). Knowledge of the definition of cloning helps one better understand its difficult process. The process of cloning is long and tedious and most uncommonly unsuccessful.
After many years of failure to clone using adult animals, most scientists started to think it was too tough. However Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute in Scotland found a new successful method (World Book, 1). It should also be noted that adult males have the lowest success rate of cloning (Okimoto, 2). The actual process of cloning is due to recent advances of Genetic Engineering. Scientists can now isolate an individual gene from one organism and grow it in another organism belonging to a different species (Clarke, 1).
While this is occurring a scientist can also take a cells chromosomes and nucleus, and inject them into a fertilized egg whose own nucleus has been removed (Clarke, 3). However another new process that was used to clone the worlds most famous sheep, is starting to be used more often. This new process involved taking mammary-gland cells from a sheep and starve them of growth, then electrically inject an egg which was later transplanted into a surrogate mother. Out of 300 attempts, only one survived the process, Dolly a lamb born in 1996 (Worldbook, 1).
The creation f Dolly is one of only a few examples that have ended in success . Having familiarity with the process of cloning helps one understand some cloning experiments. With odds like one out of 300 (the Dolly experiment) successful clones, good examples of cloning are a rarity. However when a successful clone occurs it is quite a notable feat. One cloning project currently under way is a revival of the Huia Bird. Once native to New Zealand, but became extinct in the 1920’s. Mainly because the Huias large feathers became a “hot fashion accessory” (Grossman, 1).
However in rder to start the cloning process remnants of the birds cells or bones must first be found (Grossman, 1). Another example of an attempt to relive our past is due to Larry Agenbroad, a Northern Arizona University geologist, and his team of international scientists, who plan to clone a Woolly Mammoth from DNA remnants. The frozen animal will be taken from Siberia and flown 200 miles. Once the beast reaches its destination the animal will be kept frozen in a tunnel. The eleven foot animal will be studies thoroughly, but the primary task is to extract DNA (Okimoto, 1).
This mission has not been totally cleared yet, so while legalities, and other obstacles are overcome, the beast sits frozen in Siberia. As more cloning experiments are conducted, the success rate is climbing, and as success heightens more notable examples will occur. The science of cloning can at first be considered very frightening, however once one has a better understanding of this science through its definition, process, and some examples, one should realize that some great possibilities could occur in the future.
