BRAINCAKETherapeutic Cloning
Therapeutic cloning produces embryonic stem cells that are genetically matched to a patient. Its scientific name is somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
The steps are:
1. The nucleus is removed from a donated egg cell, leaving an enucleated egg.
2. The nucleus of a somatic (body) cell, such as a skin cell, is taken from the patient and inserted into the enucleated egg.
3. A small electric shock stimulates the cell to start dividing by mitosis, as a zygote would.
4. After about five days it has developed into a blastocyst.
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Key terms in this lesson
- blastocyst
- An early embryo, formed about five days after fertilisation, consisting of a hollow ball of cells with an outer trophoblast layer and an inner cell mass.
More in Gene Expression
- Development of an Organism
- Epigenetic Control of Development
- Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Gene Editing
- Potential Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy
- Pitfalls of Stem Cell Therapy
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
All 39 lessons in Gene Expression · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics