Cloning Pets
By Sean Fiolek and Robert DelSordi
What is Cloning Pets?
Cloning pets would first happen by preserving cells from the pet while they are still alive. A biopsy kit is a Styrofoam box with ice packs and vials used for a vet to perform surgery. The vet will extract quality tissue from the animal.
- 99% of cloning pet attempts fail because of lost embryos and eggs during the process.
How it is being currently used
What is the benefit of this type of genetic engineering?
Cloning animal models of disease
Much of what researchers learn about human disease comes from studying animal models such as mice. Often, animal models are genetically engineered to carry disease-causing mutations in their genes.
Cloning to make stem cells
Stem cells build, maintain, and repair the body throughout our lives. Because these are processes that stem cells do naturally, they can be manipulated to repair damaged or diseased organs and tissues.
Is there an disadvantage, if so what is it? Are there any risks?
1. Mutations – in cloning, somatic cells play a significant role; when these cells contains mutations, the cloned animal can be weak or it could have lethal effects on the subject
2. Death – death can happen when the donor egg’s mitochondria doesn’t match with the somatic cell’s mitochondria
3. Early death or premature aging – when somatic cells undergo telometric shortening during cloning, the results can be early death of the animal or premature aging
4. Expensive – cloning is expensive because a great number of eggs are required for a single viable clone and this may seem wasteful since it is much easier to breed animals naturally
5. Genetic diversity is reduced – since it is possible to create identical copies of animals, this aspect is reduced greatly
6. Scientific limitation – until now, cloning is still experimental and it warrants further research As mentioned earlier, cloning is at its best in movies. In the real world, it still remains experimental and comes with a lot of scientific limitations. With continued research, it may be possible to create identically similar animals, or even humans! For now, scientists and researchers are still conducting in-depth studies to perfect the method of cloning.
Not everyone agrees to cloning, and in fact some people claim that it is unethical and immoral. It can also be the source of a new world scheme wherein there are superior and inferior animals. Finding donors of compatible somatic cells is vital to the success of cloning.
- Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of cloning animals will enlighten your knowledge and appreciation of life. Some things can and cannot be done. It can be said that cloning is still in its development stage, and with continued studies or research, efficient and effective methods can be created for best results.
How does it affect organisms (and which kind) physically?
Defects are common
Difficulty reproducing
- Ninety percent of clones fail to produce fertile offspring
What’s its economic effect?
Economy will lose money
- Costs about $50,000 a pet
How does it affect the environment?
An entire species could be more prone to getting diseases
- Population of certain pets could decrease
How does it affect the world in a social aspect?
Many household pets that are cloned will develop diseases
Could emotionally destroy people
- Could put people into debt
How will it affect our future?
Could save extinct pets
Could make pets last for however long someone wants
- Many new diseases can occur
Links
http://www.myfriendagain.com/Dog%20Cloning%20Cost/Dog%20Cloning%20cost.htm
http://occupytheory.org/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cloning-animals/
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/302/animal-cloning/about-cloned-animals#
http://carolinediaz.weebly.com/environmental-or-economic-impact.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XLXMqdLUu8