Question

1.a)Describe the technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (may have to do some additional online research) that was used to produce the cloned sheep Dolly and an extinct bucardo. b)Describe the steps required to reanimate (de-extinct) a species that went extinct before its nucleus could be cryopreserved for somatic cell nuclear transfer. [Note how some parts are similar to Jurrasic Park.]

c)What is the goal of facilitated adaptation?

Answer 1

a) The technique Somatic Cell Nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a laboratory technique used for cloning wherein the nucleus of a somatic cell is transferred to the euncleated (removed nucleus) cytoplasm of egg cell (female gamete) in vitro. The technique is used to develop a viable embryo from a body cell and an egg cell. the technique finds its application in both theraupeutic (regenerative medicine) as well as reproductive cloning. the first animal that was produced by this technique was Dolly ( The Sheep).

Using this technique Dolly was produced, having three mothers. for that purpose, nucleus was transferred from somatic cell (Mother 1) to the enucletaed egg cell (mother 2). The hybrid cell was stimulated to division by electric shock and as the hybrid cell reaches the blastocyst stage, it was implanted to uterus of Serrogate mother (mother 3) which then gave birth to Dolly on 5th July 1996.

As far as the extinct Bucardo is concerned, the nucleus was taken from frozen skin sample (of the specimen) and transferred to enucleated goat eggs. The clones obtianed were then implanted in Spanish ibex or goat ibex hybrids.However the clone died minutes after the birth.

b) Steps required to reanimate a species that went extinct before its nucleus could be cryopreserved for SCNT

i) Obtain the fossil reserves of such species like bones, skin, egg shells or at times soft tissues etc.

ii) From these fossils, get the DNA extracted and entire genome sequenced.

iii) Recconstruct the genome with Genome editing software and insert it into the appropriate enucleated host cell (egg cell).

iv) Culture the hybrid cell and then tranfer the embryo to the surrogate animal for reproduction.

c) The main goal of facilitated adaptation is to rescue the embryos produced using genetic engineering or SCNT and facilitate their normal birth in surrogate mothers. therfore the facilitated adaption offers many advantages in cloning for therauoeutic as well as reproductive purposes

iv) Now culture the