What is the process of therapeutic cloning?

Therapeutic cloning, also known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), is the process of producing stem cells that are a genetic match to a patient, for use in therapy. First, the nucleus of a donor egg cell (oocyte) is removed and discarded. Then, the nucleus from a patient's body (somatic) cell is extracted and transferred into the denucleated egg cell. This is then stimulated to divide and cultured for 4-5 days, whereafter stem cells may be removed. These stem cells may also be cultured into specialised cells that can be transplanted into the patient without running the risk of rejection.

Answered by Natalie A. Biology tutor

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