Nuclear Transplantation/Cloning - Anatomy & Physiology
- Commonly used in mice to propagate required characteristics.
- Embryonic stem cells are used as a source of totipotent nuclei, which are capable of dividing into a range of new cells.
- These cells are fused with pre-ovulatory oocytes which have had their own haploid nucleus removed using electrofusion.
- Cells are artificially stimulated to the second meiotic division and begin embryonic development.
- The cell source ,capable of replication in culture, can be stored by freezing and is therefore 'immortal' and able to produce many identical individuals.
- Cloned individuals have a high percentage of developmental abnormalities.