What is gene cloning and why do we need to clone a gene?
Answers
In biology, cloning is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects, plants or animals reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNAfragments (molecular cloning), cells (cell cloning), or organisms (organism cloning). The term also refers to the production of multiple copies of a product such as digital media or software.
The term clone, invented by J. B. S. Haldane, is derived from the Ancient Greek word κλών klōn, "twig", referring to the process whereby a new plant can be created from a twig. In horticulture, the spelling clon was used until the twentieth century; the final e came into use to indicate the vowel is a "long o" instead of a "short o".[1][2] Since the term entered the popular lexicon in a more general context, the spelling clone has been used exclusively.
Answer:
Cloning is the process of generating a genetically identical copy of a cell or an organism. In biomedical research, cloning is broadly defined to mean the duplication of any kind of biological material for scientific study, such as a piece of DNA or an individual cell.
Human reproductive cloning involves the implantation of a cloned embryo into the uterus. The embryo then develops into a fetus that is then carried to term. This process would help infertile people to procreate genetically identical offsprings.
In therapeutic cloning, cloned embryos used for the purpose of extracting stem cells without implanting the embryos in a womb. Therapeutic cloning enables the cultivation of stem cells that are genetically identical to a patient. The cells are transplanted into the patient to replace diseased or damaged cells.