What is therapeutic cloning?

• A. Cloning to produce a baby identical to the donor.
• B. Cloning by embryo splitting to create multiple organisms.
• C. Cloning for the purposes of extracting stem cells with the same DNA as the donor cell.
• D. Cloning to create genetically identical organs.

Answer: (C)

Therapeutic cloning is about using cloning techniques to obtain cells for medical therapy, not to create a whole new organism. The idea is to produce embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to the donor by cloning a somatic cell and then harvesting those stem cells. Because these cells share the donor’s DNA, they have the potential to be used for tissue regeneration or transplantation with a lower risk of immune rejection. This distinguishes it from producing a baby (reproductive cloning) or simply splitting an embryo to make multiple organisms. It also isn’t about directly growing organs; the focus is on obtaining patient-mpecific stem cells that can be turned into needed tissues.