The Controversial Debate Of Human Cloning - 4152 Words

Human cloning has been a very controversial topic for many years now. The term human cloning includes numerous methods that are used to produce genetically identical copies of humans. The copied material, which has the same genetic makeup as the original, is referred to as a human clone (National Human Genome Research Institute). Lost in the midst of all the fuss about cloning is the fact that cloning is nothing new: it’s rich scientific history spans more than 100 years (Genetic Science Learning Centre). The first experiments in cloning date back to 1885, when German biologist Hans Driesch split two-cell sea urchin embryos. Once separated, each cell grew into two individual sea urchins. This demonstrated that each cell in the early†¦show more content†¦Spemann then loosened the hair on one of the sixteen nuclei, allowing it to slip into the separated cytoplasm (Wilmut Highfield 66). As cell division took its course, Spemann tightened the hair loop again and broke t he embryos apart. This resulted in twin salamanders. Spemann created the first in vitro animal clone produced by nuclear manipulation (Genetic Science Learning Centre). During that time period, it was surprise that any of the previous experiments gave positive results. Despite their low success rates, the experiments however did demonstrate that the nucleus â€Å"retained to its full complement of genetic information† (Wilmut Highfield 68) which inspired later scientists to explore mammalian cloning. In 1967, Derek Bromhall decided to tackle the untouched region of mammalian cloning. In order to attempt nuclear transfer for mammalian embryos, Bromhall developed the microsurgical equipment and techniques that were required. By using a glass pipette, Bromhall transferred the nucleus from a rabbit embryo cell into a rabbit egg without a nucleus. He concluded his experiment as a success when an advanced embryo was produced. Although, cloning had led to marvelous discoveries thro ugh various experiments, it was not until 1996, when the first mammal was created through somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this astonishing experiment, Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell created a lamb by transferring the nucleus from a lamb sheep udder cell into an enucleated egg. Since