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Cloning and Stem Cells

The document discusses cloning and stem cells, explaining that cloning creates an exact duplicate while stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into other cell types. It covers adult stem cells found in tissues and embryonic stem cells from embryos, and how both cloning and stem cell research could benefit medicine through organ repair and regeneration.

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Ijaz Saddiqui
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21 views1 page

Cloning and Stem Cells

The document discusses cloning and stem cells, explaining that cloning creates an exact duplicate while stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into other cell types. It covers adult stem cells found in tissues and embryonic stem cells from embryos, and how both cloning and stem cell research could benefit medicine through organ repair and regeneration.

Uploaded by

Ijaz Saddiqui
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cloning and Stem Cells

Dr. Sophia Kaluzniacki, Delegate, Akita Club of America, Inc.

MEDICAL INFORMATION
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE AKC'S CANINE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND ITS.
DISTRIBUTION IS ENCOURAGED.

C loning and stem cells are two


buzz words in today's world.
Too many people hear these words
These are adult stem cells and
embryonic stem cells. An adult stem
cell is an unspecialized cell found in
From the above short overview, it
can be readily seen that both
cloning and stem cell research can
and conjure up pictures of endless specialized tissues of the body, such be applied to two broad categories
look-alikes as well as the harvesting as the liver or heart. These can in the world of dogs. One is the
of embryos. But that is only a very renew themselves and (with certain very narrow category of duplicating
small part of the picture. limitations) differentiate to yield all individuals. The other is the further-
First let us talk about cloning. By the specialized cell types of the tis- ing of basic research with the ulti-
definition a clone is an exact dupli- sue from which they originated. mate goal of developing useful pro-
cate of something. In the biological Scientists in many laboratories are cedures that researchers feel can
world it is a duplicate of something trying to find ways to grow adult change the face of medicine by the
relatively simple such as a fragment stem cells in cell culture and manip- development of techniques to repair
of DNA, or as complicated as a damaged organs or even to grow
whole organism. Deliberate Almost any cells can be cloned transplants. This area of regener-
cloning has been performed for ative medicine, as stem cell
decades. For instance, plants including stem cells. Stem cells are research is often called, is a
have been cloned both in the primal undifferentiated cells, which very large part of basic research
laboratory as well as commer- today.
cially for quite some time. retain the ability to differentiate Much of the controversy in
Many plant varieties are propa- into other cell types. regards to cloning and stem cell
gated by cloning. Cloning has research is centered in the ethi-
been used for years in reproducing ulate them to generate specific cell cal debate over reproducing a
viruses and bacteria. Cell lines are types so they can be used to treat human, as well as the use of human
often reproduced for basic research injury or disease. Some examples of embryos for the harvesting of stem
and in the production of many of our potential treatments include replac- cells. The ethical debate is extended
modern vaccines. DNA is also rou- ing the dopamine-producing cells in into the canine field with the Korean
tinely cloned for identification, the brains of Parkinson's patients, announcement that a dog has been
forensic, and gene mapping purpos- developing insulin-producing cells cloned. This short article was devel-
es. Currently cloning is often men- for Type I Diabetes and repairing oped to extend the understanding of
tioned in the news with regards to damaged heart muscle following a cloning but not to take a stand on
the reproduction of animals. Two heart attack with cardiac muscle the ethical issues involved. D
examples include the sheep cloned cells.
several years ago in the United An embryonic stem cell is a primi-
Kingdom, and more recently the tive (undifferentiated) cell from the
announcement by Korean researchers embryo. It has the potential to pro-
that the first dog had been produced duce a wide variety of specialized
from a cloned cell. cell types. One of the reasons
Almost any cells can be cloned researchers are so interested in
including stem cells. Stem cells are embryonic stems cells is because
primal undifferentiated cells, which they are more plentiful and have the
retain the ability to differentiate potential to differentiate into many
into other cell types. There are more types of specialized cells than
basically two kinds of stem cells. the stem cells from adult tissues.

PERSPECTIVES DECEMBER 2005

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