LifeMap DNA

4 Responses to “Would the mitochondrial DNA of a clone match that of the parent or of the egg donor?”

1. glorialuciani Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

   Any animal created using nuclear transfer technology is not truly an identical clone of the donor animal. Only the clone’s chromosomal or nuclear DNA is the same as the donor. Some of the clone’s genetic materials come from the mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the enucleated egg. Mitochondria, which are organelles that serve as power sources to the cell, contain their own short segments of DNA. Acquired mutations in mitochondrial DNA are believed to play an important role in the aging process, which is likely to be accelerated. This is ahat cloned animals, like Dolly the sheep, encountered and is going to be a real concern for some time, still.
   One possible solution could be given by the use of twinning or “embryo cloning”: Twins have identical both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA; they can be produced in laboratories, too. Scientists simply have to chemically divide the zygote (fertilized egg cell) of a female animal before it begins to undergo mitosis (natural cell division). Human zygotes have been twinned in laboratories, although the embryos were never born.

2. Rachel R Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

   The clone would have the egg donor’s mitochondrial DNA. I don’t know about the consequences for that, but I don’t believe it would make any noticeable difference.

3. tsull73 Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

   cant you just ask something about your boyfriend like everybody else?

4. GreenIYD Says:
   November 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

   Mitochondrial DNA comes from the mother.