Clonning

Appreciate that human individuals are unique, yet modern science has the ability to create genetically identical copies of complex organisms and this unit considers the advantages and disadvantages of using this scientific knowledge.

Possible practical and research activities you engaged in may have included:

• Finding out about the techniques used to produce Dolly, the first cloned animal provided the opportunity to illustrate the use of ICT in science, ethical issues about contemporary scientific developments and the role of the science community in validating changes in scientific knowledge.

• Research information on the techniques used to produce Dolly, the first cloned mammal.

• Research the current scientific and legal position on xenotransplants.

• Carry out a meristem tissue culture using cauliflower.

Know that:

• a) cloning is an example of asexual reproduction

• b) cloning produces genetically identical copies (clones).

Know that Dolly the sheep was the first mammal cloned from an adult.

Be able to recognise that identical twins are naturally occurring clones.

Be able to recognise that plants grown from cuttings or tissue culture are clones.

Be able to describe how spider plants, potatoes and strawberries reproduce asexually.

Be able to describe how to take a cutting.

Understand that Dolly the sheep was produced by the process of nuclear transfer and that nuclear transfer involves placing the nucleus of a body cell into an egg cell.

Be able to describe some possible uses of cloning, limited to:

• a) mass producing animals with desirable characteristics

• b) producing animals that have been genetically engineered to provide human products

• c) producing human embryos to supply stem cells for therapy.

Understand the ethical dilemmas concerning human cloning.