Reflection Journal

G3

PHAM Duong Thai 10/14/2012

I. II. III. IV. V.

Synopsis Cloning: techniques and understanding Cloning: a new horizon Cloning: implication: ethics Cloning: my perception

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Synopsis This journal attempts to explain a non-science students understanding of the fantastic world of cloning and stem cells sciences. Using lecture material, peers report, and additional self-sourced articles, I will explain my understanding of the field; explore some applications and ethical implications of the field. And lastly, I will reflect on how the course, and the topic in particular, has benefited me. Understanding and Techniques: 1. Natural cloning: The very first and natural cloning process is observed in the cases of twins. Cloning, in lieu of natural process, is the event of genetic copy of a DNA sequence or the entire DNA map of an organism. This natural phenomenon has been observed in monozygotic (nearly identical) twins. The misperception about twins is that they are exactly copies of each other. However, twin may refer to two very different types: diozygotic and monozygotic twins. The one form of twin, which is more relevant to the concept of cloning, is monozygotic twins. Identical twins are born when a fertilized egg divided into two embryos. As the egg splits, the genetic profile is copied over in both the embryos, thus the twins will share most of the genetic information. 2. Therapeutic cloning: Therapeutic cloning is a technique used to produce stem cells with genetic profile copied from the donor profile. With the discovery of stem cell usage, this technique promises cures to many deadly diseases have yet been cured presently.

To develop stem cells, two key ingredients are needed: an empty host egg an egg with its nucleus removed, and a lone nucleus taken from a somatic cell. The lone

nucleus will be inserted into the host egg. The egg will then be stimulated with an electrical shock in order for it to begin dividing. Usually after 5 days of division, the egg becomes an embryo with stem cells inside. Embryonic stem cells are then harvested and, thus the embryo is destroyed. Embryonic stem cells produced by the cloned embryo are extremely useful because the genetic profile is the same from the donors lone nucleus that is inserted in the host egg, reducing the possibility of transplanted organs rejection. Embryonic stem cells also possess the capability to grow into roughly 200 cell types of human body. With this discovery about stem cell usage, now we can have the ability to reproduce human body parts to conduct transplant operation with much lower risks of rejection. 3. Reproductive cloning: III. IV. A new horizon Ethical implication a. Surrogate mothers: india paying the money, contract. Either health reasons or dun want to carry that motherhood responsibility Lessons learnt a. No other survival selection -> loss of genetic diversity susceptible to one disease can wipe out the whole population

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REFERENCE: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cloning/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloning http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/cloning/whatiscloning/ http://library.thinkquest.org/24355/data/details/timeline.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2323472/ http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/therapeuticcloning.html http://www.biotechnologyforums.com/thread-60.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic-cell_nuclear_transfer http://www.religioustolerance.org/clo_ther.htm http://www.arhp.org/uploadImages/cloning_5.gif