Youtube Spacelab Entry-Leech Cloning in Microgravity

*egg fused with cell
Leech Cloning in Microgravity
Question: How would microgravity affect the efficiency of leech cloning?
Hypothesis: Development of the leech would occur faster; however, other health problems may arise.
Background Information: Cloning is the process of making a genetically identical organism through nonsexual means. There are different types of cloning such as: Reproductive cloning, therapeutic cloning and recombinant DNA cloning. The most efficient of these is reproductive cloning.
Method:
1. Obtain 2 adult leeches.
2. Extract egg cells from leech # 1
3. Use ultra-violent light to destroy the nuclei.
4. Extract a fully differentiated or specialized cells from leech # 2
5. Transfer genetic material from specialized cells to the enucleated cells
6. Use electricity or chemicals to stimulate cell division in the reconstructed egg cells
7. Make observations and record how long it takes for the leech to develop on earth (use this as the control).
8. Repeat steps 2 to 6
9. Freeze the reconstructed eggs until on the ISS in biological habitat #3(once there the temp should be kept constant at about 37 degrees Celsius) which would provide a good growth medium with nutrients.
10. Compare results and observations with the control.
Expected Results:
If cloning is faster in space then leech should fully develop over a shorter period of time. However, if other/more health problems arise, the leech should have a shorter life span than the control.
Benefits of the experiment:
This could help to come up with better cloning techniques or help to improve already known cloning techniques and if cloning is overall more efficient in microgravity, then things like insulin could be more efficiently made there and genetic diseases could be studied more in space.

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• Cloning
• Reproductive Cloning
• leech
• biology
• science
• education
• technology

[roseytwiffs]

@bevwhyte Thank you! It's very much appreciated! :D

[bevwhyte]

Interesting, Tiffany! I am certainly impressed with this experiment and very proud of you too. You have my vote 100%