ICT C–1
What Is Cloning?
{AB.Sc14.C.K.4.v}{AB.Sc14.C.S.1.ii}{AB.Sc14.C.S.2.v}{AB.Sc14.C.S.4.ii}
Name: _____________________________________
Date: ___________________
When Dolly the sheep was born in 1997, she quickly became famous. She was a clone,
meaning she had exactly the same genetic code (DNA) as her mother. Single-celled
organisms such as bacteria had been cloned for years, but Dolly was the first mammal
cloned from an adult cell. In this activity, you will learn about science, technology, and
issues related to cloning.
What to Do
• Follow the steps in each part.
• If you are using a printed ICT Master, record your answers in your Science Log or in
your notebook.
• If you are using a word processor, enter your answers electronically. Remember to save
your work as you go.
Part A: What is Cloning?
Click on the link for the Food Safety Network of Canada:
http://www.eatwelleatsafe.ca/factsheets/animalcloning.pdf
Answer the following questions.
What Did You Discover?
1. What is a clone?
2. How does cloning differ from normal sexual reproduction?
3. There are two types of cloning methods. What are they?
4. What is “embryo splitting”?
5. Dolly the sheep was the world’s first famous cloned animal. What technique was used
to produce her?
6. Provide a summary of the steps in the technique used to produce Dolly.
7. What are three possible advantages to using cloning in livestock production?
8. What are two risks to using cloning in livestock production?
9. Does Canada currently sell any cloned meat products to consumers?
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Part B:
Dolly the sheep was cloned by the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland. Click on this
link to their site and read the article reprinted from the UK newspaper The Independent:
http://www.roslin.ac.uk/public/11-01-98-qa.html
Answer the following questions.
What Did You Discover?
1. List two potential benefits of human cloning.
2. List two risks of human cloning.
3. Why did the researchers at Roslin choose to work with a sheep? Did these reasons
surprise you? Explain your answer.
What Do You Think?
4. Do you think the article shows any bias? If so, is the bias for or against cloning?
Explain your answer.
Part C:
Read the following scenarios about cloning.
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/olc_linkedcontent/bioethics_cases/g-bioe-02.htm
Answer the seven questions at the end of the article. Be sure to explain all your answers
fully.
Part D:
Cloning is a controversial issue that provokes a wide range of responses. Some people
think that cloning offers hope for the future. Other people reject cloning as a dangerous
abuse of science.
Think about what you learned by visiting the three web sites above as you look at
different sides of the cloning debate.
What Do You Think?
1. Think of three different opinions that people might have about cloning. List each
opinion in the form of a statement.
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For example:
Statement
Scientists should not be allowed to research cloning because it is meddling
with nature.
2. Write two different reactions to each of your three statements. The first reaction should
agree with the statement. The second reaction should not agree with it.
For example:
Statement
Scientists should not be allowed to research cloning because it is meddling
with nature.
Response A
I agree. There are too many ways people could misuse cloning and too
many risks. For example, if the same animal is cloned over and over again,
there will not be enough diversity (variety). Diversity is important because
some animals are better able to resist certain diseases and conditions than
others. Groups of animals with less diversity are more likely to be in
danger due to changes in diet, environment, and disease.
Response B
I disagree. People have been changing nature throughout history. For
example, for thousands of years, people have created different dog breeds.
They selected dogs that were suited for certain tasks (e.g., hunting or
protection) and allowed dogs that had those traits to reproduce. Few
people object to this practice.
3. Present one of your statements and its two responses to your class.
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