{"id":361,"date":"2025-01-22T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencegonnagetyou.com\/?p=361"},"modified":"2025-01-22T11:24:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T18:24:34","slug":"what-is-cloning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciencegonnagetyou.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/22\/what-is-cloning\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Cloning?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever loved a pet so much you wish you could have them for round 2? Or just wished for a clone to do all the things you don’t want to? Let’s learn about the scientific reality of cloning to see if those dreams can come true!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to back up a little bit to make sure we understand some terms:<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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This whole lesson is based on the prior knowledge that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. All living things are made of CELLS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Each cell has a full set of DNA instructions that instruct the growth, development and function of an organism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Plants and animals reproduce sexually when the half set of DNA from a father carried by a sperm join the half set of DNA from a mother contained in an egg.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. This first cell of an organism is called a zygote and grows by copying and dividing itself millions of times.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Are you still with me? Good, let’s move to the interesting stuff!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Basic understanding of human reproductive process before learning about cloning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    How does Cloning work?<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Since we’re trying to copy an individual, we’ll need an entire copy of their DNA from one of their body cells.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Then we need an empty egg from a female of the species.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. The full set of DNA from the donor parent is placed into the egg, then electrically shocked to stimulate growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. The zygote is then placed into the uterus of any female of the species to grow for the typical gestation period and birth through typical processes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. The clone will grow and develop along all timelines typical for their species.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      Illustration of cloning process.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      How do Clones compare to their DNA donor parents?<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      Because they share 100% of their DNA, all genetic traits will be the same. This includes physical characteristics like eye color and skin tone and genetic diseases. But because they often grow in very different times and circumstances, environmentally acquired characteristics like scars and interests often differ. Traits that are influenced by both genetics and environment like personality and sense of humor are likely to differ as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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