<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Since the announcement of the birth of the first cloned mammal in 1997, Dolly the sheep, 24 animal species including laboratory, farm, and wild animals have been cloned. The technique for somatic cloning involves transfer of the donor nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated oocyte at the metaphase II (MII) stage for the generation of a new individual, genetically identical to the somatic cell donor. There is increasing interest in animal cloning for different purposes such as rescue of endangered animals, replication of superior farm animals, production of genetically engineered animals, creation of biomedical models, and basic research. However, the efficiency of cloning remains relatively low. High abortion, embryonic, and fetal mortality rates are frequently observed. Moreover, aberrant developmental patterns during or after birth are reported. Researchers attribute these abnormal phenotypes mainly to incomplete nuclear remodeling, resulting in incomplete reprogramming. Nevertheless, multiple factors influence the success of each step of the somatic cloning process. Various strategies have been used to improve the efficiency of nuclear transfer and most of the phenotypically normal born clones can survive, grow, and reproduce. This paper will present some technical, biological, and molecular aspects of somatic cloning, along with remarkable achievements and current improvements.</p></abstract>

Since the announcement of the birth of the first cloned mammal in 1997, Dolly the sheep, 24 animal species including laboratory, farm, and wild animals have been cloned. The technique for somatic cloning involves transfer of the donor nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated oocyte at the metaphase II (MII) stage for the generation of a new individual, genetically identical to the somatic cell donor. There is increasing interest in animal cloning for different purposes such as rescue of endangered animals, replication of superior farm animals, production of genetically engineered animals, creation of biomedical models, and basic research. However, the efficiency of cloning remains relatively low. High abortion, embryonic, and fetal mortality rates are frequently observed. Moreover, aberrant developmental patterns during or after birth are reported. Researchers attribute these abnormal phenotypes mainly to incomplete nuclear remodeling, resulting in incomplete reprogramming. Nevertheless, multiple factors influence the success of each step of the somatic cloning process. Various strategies have been used to improve the efficiency of nuclear transfer and most of the phenotypically normal born clones can survive, grow, and reproduce. This paper will present some technical, biological, and molecular aspects of somatic cloning, along with remarkable achievements and current improvements.

Technical, Biological and Molecular Aspects of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer – A Review

Department of Animal Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, Faculty of Animal Science

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Since the announcement of the birth of the first cloned mammal in 1997, Dolly the sheep, 24 animal species including laboratory, farm, and wild animals have...

Technical, Biological and Molecular Aspects of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer – A Review

Published Online: Feb 04, 2022

Page range: 63 - 87

Received: Aug 29, 2020

Accepted: Jan 26, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0009

Keywords
nuclear transfer, animal cloning, nuclear reprogramming, telomeres, donor cells

© 2022 Patrycja Mrowiec et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Technical, Biological and Molecular Aspects of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer – A Review

Published Online: Feb 04, 2022

Page range: 63 - 87

Received: Aug 29, 2020

Accepted: Jan 26, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0009

Keywordsnuclear transfer, animal cloning, nuclear reprogramming, telomeres, donor cells

© 2022 Patrycja Mrowiec et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
nuclear transfer, animal cloning, nuclear reprogramming, telomeres, donor cells