Cloning is a major topic of debate. Briefly describe the process of cloning in t

Question

Cloning is a major topic of debate. Briefly describe the process of cloning in the lab incorporating facts.

How is cloning involved in gene therapy?

Give a specific and detailed example of how gene therapy may be used to solve problems associated with genetic disorders. Discuss the benefits and possible hazards of gene therapy to human health.

What might be the benefits of cloning? What are potential dangers or threats associated with the widespread use of cloning? Discuss the ethics of cloning in its various proposed forms and uses. Discuss how cloning is related to GMOs.

Explanation / Answer

Steps involved in gene cloning:

Step 1. Identification of relevant causative gene

Step 2. Amplification of gene

Step 3. Cloning of the gene to a suitable vector

Step 4. Transformation and selection of positive transformants

Step 5. Confirmation by gene sequencing.

Example: Gene therapy for patients of Cystic fibrosis - Cystic fibrosis patients lack functional CFTR gene. Gene therapy involves the transfer of WT copy of the gene to the affected tissues or organ. So, CFTR gene is cloned into a suitable vector and targeted to the epithelial cells in the airways.

Advantages of gene cloning:

1. Improving crop yields, abiotic and biotic resistance in agriculture

2. Production of novel and targeted therapeutic agents

3. Treatment of genetic disorders

Disadvantages:

1. Risk of contaminating natural diversities.

2. Probable risk of misuse by people (for example, some parents may ask physicians to make their child to be wiser and resistant to some common illness or more beautiful, which is unethical and would ultimately misbalance the humanity).

3. Bioterrorism

Ethics of gene cloning:

Relation of Cloning with GMOs

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are seeds, plants, rootstocks, animals, or microorganisms produced by inserting foreign genes to apply a desired trait. Clones on the other hand are the mature organisms created by duplicating (replicating) abiotically most or all of the DNA of the organisms. GMOs are called transgenic organisms, GMO research (transgenic research) is aimed at augmenting a desired trait, and cloning can complement this by allowing the preferred genetically modified organism (GMO) to be grown.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse C
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.