Biotechnology Application: Benefits and Negative Impacts of Reproductive Cloning
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Biotechnology allows us to use living organisms or their processes for human needs or purposes. Currently, this topic includes such general examples as cloning, stem cells (adult, umbilical cord, and embryonic), DNA fingerprinting, biological warfare, bioremediation, genetically modified organisms, vaccines, and transgenic plants and animals to name a few.
Research how a SPECIFIC biotechnology application within the above GENERAL examples (or ones not listed above) is used today. Example: Insulin production in bacteria is an example under the general topic of recombinant organisms.
What specific biotechnology application did you choose?
Briefly describe this biotechnology application.
Based upon the definition of biotechnology, describe how your biotechnology application is an example of biotechnology.
What benefits are derived from this application?
Are there any concerns or negative impacts associated with this use of biotechnology? Why or why not?
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Solution Summary
This solution defines reproductive cloning, describes the process of reproductive cloning, and lists the benefits and negative impacts of the same. This solution is 974 words.
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1. The biotechnology application chosen by me is known as Reproductive cloning. It is a technique which involves producing a duplicate of an existing animal. This technique has already been used to clone the sheep "Dolly" and other mammals.
2. The application of reproductive cloning involves the process of removing the genetic material (DNA) from an ovum and replacing it with the DNA from a cell removed from an adult animal. Then, the fertilized ovum, which is known as a pre-embryo, will be implanted in a womb and allowed to develop into a new animal. Reproductive cloning is meant to produce an exact twin of an existing person or an animal.
3. It has been argued that reproductive cloning has its own benefits. For instance, certain talents are genetically influenced. Cloning using the DNA from the cell of an adult with the desired traits might produce an infant with similar potential. A heterosexual couple where in the husband is completely sterile could utilize adult DNA to produce a child. The process of reproductive cloning might prove to be satisfactory for such couples as compared to using the sperm of another man. Even lesbians could opt to have a child through reproductive cloning rather than by artificial insemination by a man's sperm. Each of them would contribute part of her body to the fertilized ovum; one woman would donate the ovum, which contains some genetic material in its mitochondria, and the other woman the nuclear genetic material. Both ...
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