Therapeutic cloning is the process of creating new human cells and tissues, which are genetically identical to the original cell. The word therapeutic cloning is spelled as /ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk ˈkloʊnɪŋ/. The first syllable, /ˌθɛrə/, is pronounced with the TH sound. The second syllable, /ˈpjuːtɪk/, has the long U sound. The final syllable, /ˈkloʊnɪŋ/, is pronounced with the long O sound. It's important to spell therapeutic cloning correctly to ensure proper scientific communication and understanding of the process.
Therapeutic cloning refers to a scientific technique that involves the creation of cloned human embryos with the intention of using them for therapeutic purposes. Also known as embryo cloning or research cloning, it is a process in which a somatic cell from a living organism is used to create an identical genetic copy or clone.
In therapeutic cloning, the cloned embryos are not created with the intention of developing them into fully formed individuals. Instead, they are utilized to derive embryonic stem cells, which possess the remarkable capability to differentiate into any cell type in the human body. These embryonic stem cells hold great therapeutic potential for treating various diseases and injuries.
The procedure of therapeutic cloning involves taking a normal body cell, such as a skin cell, and removing its nucleus. The nucleus of the body cell is then injected into an egg cell that has had its own nucleus removed. This reconstructed egg cell, now containing the genetic material of the body cell, is stimulated to divide and develop into an early-stage embryo. The cells of this embryo can eventually be coaxed to differentiate into specific cell types, such as nerve cells or heart muscle cells. These differentiated cells hold the potential to be used for transplantation or to study diseases and develop novel therapies.
Therapeutic cloning has generated substantial interest and debate due to its potential implications in the field of medicine and stem cell research. Ethical considerations arise from the destruction of cloned embryos during the process, which has led to varied opinions about its permissibility and regulation in different countries.
The word "therapeutic" comes from the Greek word "therapeia", meaning "healing" or "medical treatment". The term "cloning" originates from the Greek word "klo̱nos", which means "twig" or "branch". In the context of cloning, it refers to the generation of genetically identical copies of living organisms or cells. Thus, "therapeutic cloning" combines these two terms to denote the process of creating genetically identical cells or tissues for therapeutic purposes, specifically for medical treatment or healing.