1. Good Biology Gone Bad at the Movies
Jurassic Park
Thursday, January 13th
Melissa Kosinski-Collins

2. Types of Cloning
Recombinant DNA/ DNA cloning: Transfer of DNA from one organism into an autonomously replicating piece of DNA (i.e. plasmid) in another organism
Reproductive cloning: Somatic cell nuclear transfer
Therapeutic cloning: Embryonic cloning to produce stem cells used in research

3. Reproductive Cloning: Methods
Extract nucleus (including nuclear DNA) from adult cell using needle
Artificially introduce DNA into an egg cell without a nucleus of the same species
Treat fused egg with chemicals or an electrical current to stimulate development
When the fused embryo is
large enough, transplant into
a surrogate mother of the
same species for
development

4. Genetically modified mouse ES cells and mouse microinjection

5. Cloned Animals “Dolly”: the world’s first cloned adult animal
“Copycat”: December 22, 2001, the world’s first cloned pet
“Idaho Gem”: May 4, 2003, the world’s first cloned race horse
“ANDi”: First rhesus monkey cloned by embryo splitting

6. Reproductive Cloning: Drawbacks
DNA must not be significantly damaged during implantation process
Many nuclear transfers needed for small number of successful growths (1/276 for Dolly & 1/191 for Copycat)
Clones are often born with birth defects or predisposition to disease

7. Reproductive Cloning: Challenges
As an embryo grows, cells move from an undifferentiated to a differentiated state
DNA extracted from adult cells is terminally differentiated
We must get DNA from adult cells to “revert” to undifferentiated state to form the new clone!
Altered expression state of genes from adult DNA may be causing the high number of cloning failures
2002 WI study showed 4% of genes in cloned mouse liver and placenta function abnormally

8. Are these really clones?
Mitochondrial DNA
Selective X inactivation
Nature versus nuture
Random Mutation
Lysogenic virus infection

9. Could we bring back extinct species?
What about a surrogate for embryo transplantation?
Where do we get the DNA from?
How do we fix DNA that has been damaged?

10. Things to Watch For Where do they get the DNA?
Do they have a donor nucleus or an acceptor annucleated egg cell?
What template do they use to “fix” breaks in the dinosaur DNA?
How do they physically manipulate the DNA?
Do they have any failures in the cloning process? If so, what and where are they?

11. Human Cloning
November 2001, ACT announces they have produced the first cloned human embryos
Implanted skin cell DNA into a nucleated human egg
Stimulated division
with Ionomycin
3 of 8 eggs actually
began dividing
1 of 8 divided until
it was stopped at 6
cell stage