Embryo transplant
You start of by giving a top-cow fertility hormones so that it produces lots of eggs . You fertilise these eggs with sperm from a good bull. The developing embryo is removed from a pregnant animal at an early stage, before the embryo's cells have had time to become specialised. It is separated into individual cells and will then be transplanted into host mothers after they have developed. Each of these cells grow into embryo. When the offspring are born, they are identical to each other. They are not identical to their host mothers, because they contain different genetic information (the offsprings' DNA comes from the original pregnant animal and the father).
You start of by giving a top-cow fertility hormones so that it produces lots of eggs . You fertilise these eggs with sperm from a good bull. The developing embryo is removed from a pregnant animal at an early stage, before the embryo's cells have had time to become specialised. It is separated into individual cells and will then be transplanted into host mothers after they have developed. Each of these cells grow into embryo. When the offspring are born, they are identical to each other. They are not identical to their host mothers, because they contain different genetic information (the offsprings' DNA comes from the original pregnant animal and the father).
This technique is used by farmers to increase their flock’s breeding potential through the female lines. Embryo Transplant reduces
disease risk and can give mothers who can't conceive, to still have a baby.
In my opinion, there is nothing unethical about embryo transplant. This technique can solve many issues such as world hunger. The animal sales will only decide if this method goes on. |
Advantages
- Embryo transplant is skilled and expensive work, but it is worth it because using normal reproduction, a cow might produce 8-10 calves. Embryo transplant can produce more offspring than that in a single year.
- We can produce many identical copies of clones of animals which have been genetically modified to produce useful proteins in their milk.
This means that they are medically useful. - we can transport high-quality embryos all around the world. They can be carried to places where cattle with a high milk yield or lots of meat are badly needed.
- It is more expensive that conventional breeding programmes.
- The procedure requires considerable skill and experience in meticulous embryo handling procedures.
- The synchronization of recipient is challenging and therefore 2-3 embryo recipients are required for every donor. This does contribute to the cost of the programme.