A short article I found on Science News talked about the cloning success of a dog. The clone has near identical genome to the donor dog. The article states that clones can be used to study environmental changes and the epigenome.
Being interested in epigenetics, twin studies, and how different factors affect the epigenome, the possibility of using clones is an interesting approach. Twins can be hard to study and it takes a lot to study them over a long period of time. Being able to clone an animal and study if over it's life time would make it easier. Having an identical genomes to compare will make it easier to identify how the epigenome affects it, what changes occur and where. Mice and rats could be cloned and be subjected to different environments, i.e. one in smoking environment and one in clean air, and see where the epigenome is affected.
There are many ethical issues that go along with this type of study as well cloning in general. Would cloning a mouse or rat to have identical genetic material be worth it? Or is it more cruel to clone an animal just to test on it? Having identical genetic material to manipulate and then look at would pinpoint changes would be very informative.
Read this article here.
Read this article here.
First of all, I do not understand, whatsoever, the problem with cloning mice if we already subject mice to so many different seemingly unethical experiments as it is (um... growing a human ear on the back of the mouse). I would greatly appreciate if someone that DOES have a problem with cloning mice explains their reasoning. I am open to new ideas.
ReplyDeleteLol there is no second of all.
DeleteThe cloning of mice and rats does not affect me whatsoever. Cloning of dogs, however does. Dogs are a man's best friend, they are our pets and for some, our family members. I do not like the idea of cloning with the aspect of using dogs as its test subject. I wonder if this will be allowed by big organizations who are against cruel and unusual punishment (whether it seems like it is punishment or not, I'm sure someone will find a way to say it is).
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic!
My dogs and cats are part of my family, absolutely. I don't think I could clone a dog for use, you can see pain and emotions within their eyes. I'm not sure the same can be said for mice or rats, I also haven't spent much time with mice or rats.
DeleteIt's funny how we decide which animals we can kill and which we shouldn't. Reminds me of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_Tl1kvlQU>this scene</a> from <I>Pulp Fiction</I>.
ReplyDeleteI meant It's funny how we decide which animals we can kill and which we shouldn't. Reminds me of this scene from Pulp Fiction.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I think Samuel L Jackson's character brings up a point about dogs having personalities that makes them less filthy, even though they eat their own feces and roll around in the dirt. That could explain why most people have issues with testing on dogs over mice or rats, dogs have a personality, whereas most people don't think of mice or rats having a personality. My best friend had a rat and it definitely had a personality, she loved him.
DeleteI agree with Randle, I cannot stand this bias. I think people need to realize that drugs and experiments need to be tested on something before it is done to someone. And the last time I checked, there is no shortage on mice or dog populations.
ReplyDelete