Dolly, a domestic sheep, was cloned from an adult somatic cell by means of nuclear transfer. Which of the following is a likely development from the biotechnological success of cloning Dolly?

preserving endangered species

creating an entirely new breed of sheep

introducing new mutations in the larger sheep population

producing new species by crossing mammals with other animal classes

Question

Dolly, a domestic sheep, was cloned from an adult somatic cell by means of nuclear transfer. Which of the following is a likely development from the biotechnological success of cloning Dolly?

 preserving endangered species

 creating an entirely new breed of sheep

 introducing new mutations in the larger sheep population

 producing new species by crossing mammals with other animal classes

blues · Answer

The defining feature of a cloned animal like Dolly is that it's genetic material is exactly the same as it's parent's genetic material. Would new breeds of sheep (which by definition have distinct genetic material) or mutations (which involve random changes to the DNA) be options, given that?

anonymous · Answer

No?

blues · Answer

I agree - they wouldn't.

anonymous · Answer

So would it be  introducing new mutations in the larger sheep population?

blues · Answer

We just agreed that cloning happens when the genetic material in the offspring is precisely the same as the genetic material as the parent...

blues · Answer

And mutations are changes in the genetic material between the parents and the offspring.

anonymous · Answer

Whoops sorry I looked over that...sorry :( Well thank you for you're help!(:

blues · Answer

Sure - glad to be helpful.