::Clone types

When we talk about cloning in the field of biotechnology, we can interpret 2 different types of cloning: * Reproductive cloning * Therapeutic cloning

Reproductive Cloning

With reproductive cloning, as with therapeutic cloning, the core is removed from a fertile ovule first and is then replaced with the DNA of the animals that will be cloned. The ovule grows in a test-tube until it reaches embryonic state. Differing to therapeutic cloning, where the stem cell is retrieved from the embryo, the embryo is placed in the womb of the animal. Here it will evolve into an identical young form of the DNA donor (= clone), if the cloning process was successful. Body cells can be used to create (stem) cells or even tissues that can be used in transplants for example. In the future it could become possible to apply this method for curing people and animals or even to prevent diseases. Transplanting blastomere cores allows many new embryos to be retrieved from 1 embryo (i.e. in the 8-cell stadium). This could lead to birthing individuals with identical genes. This process is called reproductive cloning.

Therapeutic cloning

Therapeutic cloning revolves around taking stem cells that retrieved during a young embryonic state and, once outside the embryo, can evolve into blood cells, neurons … These stem cells could then be used to produce certain types of tissue that could in turn be used in transplants for animals (and humans).