Cloning is a major topic of debate and is described in the textbook.Briefly desc
ID: 206807 • Letter: C
Question
Cloning is a major topic of debate and is described in the textbook.Briefly describe the process of cloning in the lab incorporating facts from the textbook.
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
1.Cloning is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals. Brief description of cloning process-
A.Prepare vector DNA for cloning-
Restriction enzymes identify and cut specific sequences in DNA to produce fragments, they play important role in the construction of recombinant DNA molecules such as the vector and gene.Digest 2-5 microgram of vector DNA using restriction enzymes needed for the insert DNA.
B. Prepare insert DNA for cloning-
Insert DNA can also be prepared using restriction enzymes. Using T4 DNA ligase enzymes, vector and insert DNA can be ligated.
C. Competent cell preparation -
Can be prepared using heat shock method or calcium chloride treatment or by electrophoresis. Inserts can be transformed to the competent cells and by screening, we can find the correct inserts.
2. Gene from affected cells can be removed in-vitro(outside the body) and to these cells desired/correct gene can be inserted. Gene therapy can be done in somatic cells or in the germ line cells.
Example- DNA cloning was used to build plasmids containing a normal version of the gene, which is non functional in cystic fibrosis. When the plasmids were delivered to the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, lung function deteriorated less quickly. Somatic gene therapy was performed, it involved the transfer of correct copies of normal functioning cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR) to the epithelial cells of airways.
Benefits- Replace defective cells, prevent future generations from expressing the defective trait, eradicate diseases.
Potential dangers- Damage gene pool, altering human capabilities, increase in disorder- majority of the time virus is selected as the potential vehicle for vector transfer, this can some times lead to non specific binding and wrong insertions and expression.
Ethical issues in human- genetic damage to the clone, health risks to the host human, very low success rate of transfer and in the case of reproductive cloning- loss of large number of embryos and fetuses, psychological harm to the clone, commodification of human life.
Ethical issues in animals- unnatural and unethical treatment and procedures while cloning animals, commodifications of animals, narrow genetic diversityt too far and treating animals as supermarket commodities.
A genetically modified organisms is an organism that has undergone a recombinant DNA procedure. Recombinant DNA technology involves the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another plant or animal. Cloning is not the same as genetic modification because it involves replicating the DNA without any changes to its sequence. Genetic modification requires that gene within the DNA sequence be modified.
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