Cloning

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Cloning Noun

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[kloh-ning]

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Cloning

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The production of a new individual that contains the same genetic information as a single parent organism.

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Example: This diagram shows natural cloning. A single planarian worm is cut into pieces, and each piece regenerates into a new, genetically identical worm.

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Asexual Reproduction Noun

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[ey-sek-shoo-uhl ree-proh-duhk-shuhn]

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Asexual Reproduction

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A form of reproduction that produces offspring genetically identical to a single parent, without the fusion of gametes.

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Example: A parent hydra grows a small bud on its body, which develops into a new, genetically identical hydra and eventually detaches.

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Somatic cell Noun

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[soh-mat-ik sel]

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Somatic cell

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Any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells, such as sperm and egg cells.

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Example: This diagram shows that somatic cells are all the cells in the body of an organism, which are different from the reproductive germ cells (sperm and egg).

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Embryo Noun

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[em-bree-oh]

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Embryo

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An early stage of development of a multicellular organism, typically developing from a fertilized egg or cloned cell.

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Example: This diagram shows a developing chick embryo inside an egg, with key structures like the yolk, shell, and amnion labeled for context.

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Surrogate mother Noun

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[sur-uh-git muhth-er]

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Surrogate mother

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An individual who carries an embryo in the uterus through pregnancy but is not the biological or genetic mother.

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Example: This diagram shows a surrogate mother, or gestational carrier, who carries a pregnancy for intended parents. In cloning, this is how a cloned embryo grows.

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Biotechnology Noun

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[bahy-oh-tek-nol-uh-jee]

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Biotechnology

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The technological application of biological systems or living organisms to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

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Example: This diagram shows molecular cloning, where a piece of donor DNA is inserted into a bacterial plasmid (vector) to make many copies (clones).

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Reproductive cloning Noun

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[ree-proh-duhk-tiv kloh-ning]

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Reproductive cloning

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A type of cloning used for producing a whole organism that is a genetic copy of an existing organism.

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Example: This diagram shows creating a clone (Dolly) by transferring a nucleus from a donor sheep's cell into an egg cell with its nucleus removed.

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Therapeutic cloning Noun

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[thair-uh-pyoo-tik kloh-ning]

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Therapeutic cloning

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A type of cloning used to produce embryonic stem cells for use in regenerative medicine and disease treatment.

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Example: This diagram shows how a patient's own cell is used to create an embryo, from which stem cells are taken and grown into specialized therapeutic cells for treatment.

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DNA cloning Noun

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[dee-en-ey kloh-ning]

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DNA cloning

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A molecular biology technique that makes many identical copies of a specific piece of DNA, such as a gene.

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Example: This diagram shows how a target gene, like the one for insulin, is inserted into a bacterial plasmid. Both are cut, and then the gene is pasted into the plasmid.

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Grafting Noun

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[graf-ting]

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Grafting

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A horticultural technique where part of one plant is attached to another so they grow as a single plant.

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Example: This diagram shows grafting, a cloning method where a 'scion' (a desired plant cutting) is attached to the 'stock' (the root system of another plant).