What is therapeutic cloning and what benefits might it offer?
Therapeutic cloning is a technique to create versatile stem cells independent of fertilized eggs. In this technique, the nucleus, which contains the genetic material, is removed from an unfertilized egg. The nucleus is also removed from a somatic cell of a donor. This donor nucleus is then injected into the egg, replacing the nucleus that was removed, a process called nuclear transfer. The egg is allowed to divide and soon forms a blastocyst. This creates a line of stem cells that is genetically identical to the donor’s — in essence, a clone. This technique is also called somatic cell nuclear transfer. Some researchers believe that stem cells derived from therapeutic cloning may offer benefits over those from fertilized eggs because they’re less likely to be rejected once transplanted back into the donor, and they may allow researchers to see exactly how a disease develops.
