For many years, the ideas of cloning rested solely on the pages of science fiction novels. Within the last four decades, cloning has become a reality for scientists. There are several different types of cloning, and each has its own purpose.
The type of cloning that primarily deals with protein analysis is molecular cloning, which is also known as DNA cloning. Molecular biologists look at the way proteins form and also their function as each protein has its own special function. Some proteins catalyze metabolic reactions, while others transport information throughout the body, and still others replicate our DNA. Being able to identify and alter these proteins may prove to be a way for scientists to cure everything from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's disease to cancer.
Reproductive cloning is just about what it sounds like, which is using cloning technology to create an animal with the identical nuclear DNA as another animal. This can be an animal that is currently alive or scientists can use the DNA of animal that is no longer alive.
While reproductive cloning produces an animal that is highly similar to the original animal, it is not an exact copy. The DNA inside the nucleus is exactly identical; however, the new animal features unique DNA in the cell's mitochondria.
Therapeutic cloning is yet another form of cloning, and it is perhaps the most controversial. Unlike reproductive cloning, where the goal is to create a new animal from an embryo, the embryo in therapeutic cloning is halted in its growing process. The process is stopped at a certain point so that the stem cells of the embryo can be studied, and then the embryo is destroyed.
The goal of therapeutic cloning is not only to study stem cells, but eventually to use these stem cells to fight diseases such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease and hundreds of other medical disorders. The reason why scientists want to use stem cells is because these cells can be changed into any type of cell. There are 220 different types of cells in our bodies, and the idea that you can transform a stem cell into any of these types suggests that you might be able to create new healthy cells, integrate them into the body and then use this therapy to halt or lessen the effects of diseases caused by unhealthy or dying cells.
The type of cloning that primarily deals with protein analysis is molecular cloning, which is also known as DNA cloning. Molecular biologists look at the way proteins form and also their function as each protein has its own special function. Some proteins catalyze metabolic reactions, while others transport information throughout the body, and still others replicate our DNA. Being able to identify and alter these proteins may prove to be a way for scientists to cure everything from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's disease to cancer.
Reproductive cloning is just about what it sounds like, which is using cloning technology to create an animal with the identical nuclear DNA as another animal. This can be an animal that is currently alive or scientists can use the DNA of animal that is no longer alive.
While reproductive cloning produces an animal that is highly similar to the original animal, it is not an exact copy. The DNA inside the nucleus is exactly identical; however, the new animal features unique DNA in the cell's mitochondria.
Therapeutic cloning is yet another form of cloning, and it is perhaps the most controversial. Unlike reproductive cloning, where the goal is to create a new animal from an embryo, the embryo in therapeutic cloning is halted in its growing process. The process is stopped at a certain point so that the stem cells of the embryo can be studied, and then the embryo is destroyed.
The goal of therapeutic cloning is not only to study stem cells, but eventually to use these stem cells to fight diseases such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease and hundreds of other medical disorders. The reason why scientists want to use stem cells is because these cells can be changed into any type of cell. There are 220 different types of cells in our bodies, and the idea that you can transform a stem cell into any of these types suggests that you might be able to create new healthy cells, integrate them into the body and then use this therapy to halt or lessen the effects of diseases caused by unhealthy or dying cells.
About the Author:
Armand Zeiders loves writing about biomedical research. For more information about N-terminal sequencing service, please visit the Primm Biotech site today.
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