Cloning of embryos

Abstract

Nuclear transfer for the study of differentiation in amphibians has been used since the 1950s, but not until recently have the same procedures been applied successfully to some mammals. Nuclear transfer, as developed for the amphibian, is successful in sheep, cattle, rabbit, and pig, but not mouse embryos. This fact is discussed in relation to the species-specific timing of the activation of the zygotic genome. Nuclear transfer to an oocyte presumably results in a genomic reprogramming of the transferred nucleus. The limits of differentiation that can be reprogrammed have yet to be determined. Since the cells of early embryos are thought to have identical nuclear genomes, early embryos can be used as a source of donor nuclei; and, when combined with serial nuclear transfer, can theoretically produce an unlimited number of identical offspring. Cloning by splitting does not result in a reprogramming of the genome and is limited in the number of identical offspring that can result. Here we discuss some of the factors to consider concerning micromanipulation and nuclear reprogramming and how they relate to other embryo technologies.