What is the Difference Between Artificial Embryo Twinning and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer?

Artificial embryo twinning and somatic cell nuclear transfer are two different techniques used to create clones, which are organisms that are exact genetic copies of each other. Here are the key differences between the two methods:

Artificial Embryo Twinning:

• This technique mimics the natural process of twinning.
• It involves splitting a fertilized egg into two separate embryos.
• The fertilized egg is divided, and the resulting embryos are genetically identical.
• This method can be used for cloning organs from human embryonic cells.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT):

• SCNT is a form of asexual reproduction.
• It involves inserting a somatic cell nucleus into an enucleated egg cell.
• The egg develops to the blastocyst stage, and then the cells undergo differentiation.
• This technique does not mimic any natural process.

In summary, artificial embryo twinning creates clones by mimicking the natural twinning process, while somatic cell nuclear transfer produces clones through the insertion of a somatic cell nucleus into an enucleated egg cell.

Comparative Table: Artificial Embryo Twinning vs Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

Here is a table comparing Artificial Embryo Twinning and Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer:

Artificial Embryo Twinning is a low-tech method of creating identical twins artificially, mimicking the natural twinning process. In contrast, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is a technique that involves inserting the nucleus of a somatic cell into an enucleated egg, producing genetically identical organisms.