Question 1: Therapeutic cloning involves creating embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to a donor for medical treatments. This process uses somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce cloned cells that can differentiate into specialised tissues.

Answer: Therapeutic cloning is a process to produce genetically identical stem cells for treatment, using somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Question 1: Define therapeutic cloning.

Answer: A process to produce genetically identical stem cells for medical treatments using somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Question 2: Explain the main difference between therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning.

Answer: Therapeutic cloning produces stem cells for treatment, while reproductive cloning produces a whole organism.

Question 3: List the key steps involved in therapeutic cloning using somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Answer: First, extract a somatic cell from the donor; second, remove the nucleus from an egg cell; third, insert the donor nucleus into the enucleated egg; fourth, stimulate the egg to develop into an embryo; fifth, extract stem cells from the embryo for therapy.

Question 1: If a somatic cell divides via mitosis every 24 hours, how many cells will there be after 5 days starting from a single cell? (Use the formula: Number of cells = 2^n, where n = number of divisions).

Answer: Number of divisions = 5 days * (1 division per day) = 5; total cells = 2^5 = 32.

Question 2: A cloned embryo contains 64 cells. How many divisions have occurred if the original cell was 1 cell and each division doubles the cell number?

Answer: Number of divisions = log2(64) = 6 divisions.

Question 1: Describe a basic experimental outline for producing stem cells via therapeutic cloning, including key variables and safety precautions.

Answer: First, obtain a somatic cell and enucleated egg; second, transfer the nucleus; third, stimulate cell division to form an embryo; key variables include the quality of the donor cell and the environment; safety precautions involve sterile techniques and ethical considerations.

Question 1: A study reports that 75% of cloned embryos successfully develop into stem cells suitable for therapy. Out of 200 attempted clones, how many are expected to be successful? What factors could influence this success rate?

Answer: Expected successful clones = 200 * 0.75 = 150; factors include quality of donor cells, technique accuracy, and environmental conditions.

Question 1: Discuss two potential benefits and two ethical concerns associated with therapeutic cloning.

Answer: Benefits include the potential to generate patient-specific tissues reducing rejection and advancing regenerative medicine. Ethical concerns involve the destruction of embryos and the potential for misuse in reproductive cloning.

Question 2: Identify at least two industries or fields that could benefit from advances in therapeutic cloning technology.

Answer: Medicine (regenerative therapy) and pharmaceutical research.