Introduction to Genetic Cloning

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What is genetic cloning?

Genetic cloning is the process of creating copies of genes or segments of DNA.

What is a clone in biological terms?

A clone is an organism or cell that is genetically identical to the original organism or cell.

Name a common method used for genetic cloning in laboratories.

Recombinant DNA technology is a common method for genetic cloning.

What is a plasmid in the context of genetic cloning?

A plasmid is a small, circular DNA strand in bacteria used as a vector for genetic cloning.

Who was the first scientist to successfully clone an animal?

Dolly the sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell by Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell.

What is therapeutic cloning?

Therapeutic cloning aims to create tissues or organs for transplantation to treat disease.

What is reproductive cloning?

Reproductive cloning creates an organism that is genetically identical to the donor organism.

Why is the enzyme reverse transcriptase important in cloning?

Reverse transcriptase transcribes RNA into DNA, which is useful in cloning eukaryotic genes.

What role does the enzyme ligase play in genetic cloning?

Ligase is used to join DNA fragments together, completing the insertion of foreign DNA.

What is the significance of the Human Genome Project to genetic cloning?

The Human Genome Project mapped all human genes and helped advance techniques in genetic cloning.

What ethical concerns are associated with genetic cloning?

Ethical concerns include the potential for misuse, identity issues, and impacts on biodiversity.

What is DNA sequencing and why is it important to cloning?

DNA sequencing determines the order of bases in DNA, crucial for understanding and replicating genes.

How can cloning be used in medicine?

Cloning can lead to advances in gene therapy and the production of genetically identical organisms for study.

What is gene cloning's potential role in agriculture?

Gene cloning can produce crops with desirable traits like pest resistance and higher yields.

Why might cloning not always produce a perfect copy?

Environmental factors and epigenetic changes can influence the development of clones, affecting their traits.