What is the application of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology?

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Q: 78 (IAS/2017)
What is the application of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,75,43,8,6,75,29

keywords: 

{'somatic cell nuclear transfer technology': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'reproductive cloning': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'biolarvicides': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'production': [16, 4, 20, 51], 'application': [0, 1, 1, 3], 'biodegradable plastics': [0, 0, 0, 2], 'diseases': [9, 0, 10, 7], 'organisms': [4, 1, 3, 2]}

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is a laboratory technique that involves transferring the nucleus of a somatic (body) cell into an egg cell that has had its own nucleus removed. This technique`s primary application, represented by option 3, is the reproductive cloning of animals, with the most famous example being Dolly the sheep. The cloned organism is a genetic copy of the donor somatic cell.

Option 1 suggests that SCNT is used for the production of biolarvicides. This is incorrect because biolarvicides are generally produced through genetic manipulation in bacteria, not via SCNT.

Option 2 implies that SCNT is used for creating biodegradable plastics. This is not true; biodegradable plastics are typically produced with plant substances or through microbial fermentation, not animal cloning techniques.

Option 4 proposes that SCNT produces disease-free organisms. While it`s conceivable that SCNT could potentially be used in developing gene therapies to prevent diseases, the technique doesn`t inherently make organisms disease-free. This process does not ensure absolute safeguard against all types of diseases either. Therefore the correct answer is indeed option 3, reproductive cloning of animals.