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CLONING, CLONES AND CLONAL DISEASES
May 04, 1999Cloning, Clones and Clonal Diseases - A Synopsis
The concept of clone is that of any group of cells or organisms produced from a single ancestor. In the past, cloning has been familiar to plant breeders, because many plants can thus be reproduced easily, bypassing the lengthy process of cross-fertilization. Recently, the concept of cloning has become popular in human biology and medicine on two accounts.
Firstly, individual genes can be cloned from the enormous complexity of the DNA that makes up the human genetic material. It is expected that, within a few years, all of the estimated 100,000 human genes will be isolated by this approach. This should make it possible to identify all the genes that determine the individual characteristics of human beings, including those that are responsible for causing human diseases; or for making people more susceptible or less susceptible to pick up diseases from the environment.
At the same time, cloned genes made into pharmaceutical products are already in use for creating a variety of diseases, from hormonal deficiencies to certain types of anaemia. One can also hope to use cloned genes to correct inherited abnormalities: this is the promise of gene therapy.
Secondly, the spectacular experiment whereby a sheep (Dolly) was cloned, followed soon by the cloning of calves and mice, has brought home the somewhat awesome notion that perhaps even human beings might be cloned. Nature has preceded us in experimenting with human cloning, as it does any time identical twins are born: in this case the cloning takes place in the embryo, at the very beginning of its life. In the Lilly lecture we will discuss what may happen instead if a twin is cloned artificially from an adult: this proposition raises novel ethical questions; but in addition there may be major biological problems, such as premature ageing. The importance of clones with respect to human diseases has also emerged in a different way.
In general, all the cells in the body have the same genetic material, and they differ only in the way they use it. However, given the very large number of cells in the body, it is inevitable that some of them undergo subtle changes in the genetic material, called mutations. Mutant cells can clone: sometimes they grow like the normal cells, sometimes less, sometimes more.
In the Lilly lecture we will discuss how the growth of mutant clones are the basis for numerous human diseases, including auto immune diseases, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and cancer. Mutations occur largely at random. Therefore, it is important to realise that, while we are actively seeking to pinpoint inherited factors and environmental factors that can cause cancer, there is always an element of chance, or bad luck, in the onset of this disease. This is a new challenge in our long-drawn effort to understand and control cancer.
Royal College of Physicians
At the same time, cloned genes made into pharmaceutical products are already in use for creating a variety of diseases, from hormonal deficiencies to certain types of anaemia. One can also hope to use cloned genes to correct inherited abnormalities: this is the promise of gene therapy.
Secondly, the spectacular experiment whereby a sheep (Dolly) was cloned, followed soon by the cloning of calves and mice, has brought home the somewhat awesome notion that perhaps even human beings might be cloned. Nature has preceded us in experimenting with human cloning, as it does any time identical twins are born: in this case the cloning takes place in the embryo, at the very beginning of its life. In the Lilly lecture we will discuss what may happen instead if a twin is cloned artificially from an adult: this proposition raises novel ethical questions; but in addition there may be major biological problems, such as premature ageing. The importance of clones with respect to human diseases has also emerged in a different way.
In general, all the cells in the body have the same genetic material, and they differ only in the way they use it. However, given the very large number of cells in the body, it is inevitable that some of them undergo subtle changes in the genetic material, called mutations. Mutant cells can clone: sometimes they grow like the normal cells, sometimes less, sometimes more.
In the Lilly lecture we will discuss how the growth of mutant clones are the basis for numerous human diseases, including auto immune diseases, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and cancer. Mutations occur largely at random. Therefore, it is important to realise that, while we are actively seeking to pinpoint inherited factors and environmental factors that can cause cancer, there is always an element of chance, or bad luck, in the onset of this disease. This is a new challenge in our long-drawn effort to understand and control cancer.
Royal College of Physicians
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