Therapeutic cloning
Therapeutic Cloning
Therapeutic cloning, also known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), is a process of creating embryonic stem cells for the purpose of treating diseases.
Pronunciation
Therapeutic cloning: /θɛrəˈpjuːtɪk ˈkloʊnɪŋ/
Etymology
The term "therapeutic cloning" is derived from the Greek words "therapeia" meaning healing and "klōn" meaning twig.
Definition
Therapeutic cloning involves the transfer of nuclear material from a somatic cell into an egg cell that has had its nucleus removed, with the aim of creating a blastocyst (early-stage embryo) from which embryonic stem cells can be harvested and used to treat diseases or repair damaged tissues.
Process
The process of therapeutic cloning involves several steps. First, a somatic cell, such as a skin cell, is taken from the patient. The nucleus of this cell, which contains the patient's DNA, is then inserted into an egg cell that has had its own nucleus removed. This egg is then stimulated to divide and develop into a blastocyst. The embryonic stem cells are then harvested from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst.
Applications
Therapeutic cloning has the potential to treat a range of diseases and conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injuries, and diabetes. It could also be used to grow organs for transplantation.
Related Terms
- Stem cell
- Somatic cell
- Nuclear transfer
- Blastocyst
- Embryo
- DNA
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Therapeutic cloning
- Wikipedia's article - Therapeutic cloning
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski