Question 1: Therapeutic cloning is a process where scientists create embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to a patient, aiming to generate tissues or organs for transplant. This process involves somatic cell nuclear transfer and cell differentiation.

Answer: Therapeutic cloning is a method of creating genetically identical embryonic stem cells for medical treatment, usually involving somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce tissues or organs for transplantation.

Question 1: What are the two main steps involved in therapeutic cloning?

Answer: Somatic cell nuclear transfer and differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

Question 2: Explain the purpose of somatic cell nuclear transfer in therapeutic cloning.

Answer: To insert the nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated egg to produce an embryo with the same DNA as the donor.

Question 1: Which medical purpose is primarily achieved through therapeutic cloning?

Answer:

Question 2: List one ethical concern associated with therapeutic cloning.

Answer: Potential for embryo destruction or misuse of cloning technology.

Question 1: Calculate the total number of chromosomes in a human somatic cell and in a resulting cloned embryo, assuming the normal chromosome number is 46.

Answer: Chromosomes in a somatic cell = 46; in a cloned embryo = 46.

Question 2: Describe how the process of cell differentiation is important in therapeutic cloning.

Answer: Cell differentiation allows stem cells to develop into specific tissues or organs needed for medical treatment.

Question 1: Design a basic outline of an experiment to test the effectiveness of stem cells derived from therapeutic cloning in repairing damaged tissue. Mention variables and safety precautions.

Answer: Experiment outline: Use stem cells derived from cloned embryos to treat damaged tissue in a model organism. Independent variable: type of stem cells; dependent variable: extent of tissue repair. Safety precautions include sterile techniques, ethical approval, and proper disposal of biological materials.

Question 1: A study reports that 85% of tissues successfully healed after treatment with stem cells from therapeutic cloning, compared to 40% with traditional treatments. What does this data suggest about the potential of therapeutic cloning in medicine?

Answer: It suggests that therapeutic cloning-derived stem cells may significantly improve healing efficiency over traditional methods.

Question 1: Name a current or potential application of therapeutic cloning in medicine or biotechnology.

Answer: Generating patient-specific tissues or organs for transplantation, reducing rejection risk.