Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 11/02/2009 15:20:50
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Dearest Cloneologists,
As a sheepy I am of course always the recipient of many invitations to be cloned.
Here is what George Lucas just went and did !
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Nice eh ?...being delieverd to my next door neighbours garden next Tuesday.
My son tells me that clones don't live as long as the original !..why's that then ?..and do ewe think that one day, clones will actually surpass the lifespan of the original ?
whajafink ?
Hugs et les shmisheys
mwah mwah mwah
neil
There's No Race Like Clone
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They way I understand it, with Dolly (a relative of yours, perhaps?), adult DNA was inserted into an egg, which eventually led to the birth of the first cloned sheep. This DNA, as it was from an adult sheep, had already undergone some of the DNA damaging processes that happen all the time (for example, there are bits of DNA on the ends of chromosomes which are just a repeated short pattern - these are called telomeres, and often become shortened over time due to imperfect copying). Because some DNA damage had already occurred, Dolly passed away of age related illness before she would have done if her DNA was pristine at birth.
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So they are basically born the age of the original?
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Oh that's interesting.. what a good question Neil!
Thanks Ben...
I had never heard that before..so even though they are newborn in size etc.. their insides etc..have like already basically with stood the life, wear and tear of the DNA doner?
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So they are basically born the age of the original?
I don't think it's as simple as that - there may be different DNA repair/checking processes in a developing foetus than an adult.
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THANK EWE [
They way I understand it, with Dolly (a relative of yours, perhaps?), adult DNA was inserted into an egg, which eventually led to the birth of the first cloned sheep. This DNA, as it was from an adult sheep, had already undergone some of the DNA damaging processes that happen all the time (for example, there are bits of DNA on the ends of chromosomes which are just a repeated short pattern - these are called telomeres, and often become shortened over time due to imperfect copying). Because some DNA damage had already occurred, Dolly passed away of age related illness before she would have done if her DNA was pristine at birth.
THANK EWE BenV
I apprecaite this very informed answer . Fascinating.....and it's interetseing to read Jna's comment too. (and yours too of course Kareny mam !)
Surely someone has used DNA from a baby mouse or lamb ?...you'd think they'd give that a try !
Thanks for the answer.