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Name: Jerome
Status: Educator
Grade:  9-12
Location: CA
Country: United States
Date: February 2006
Question:
In cloning, is it necessary that the enucleated egg be of the same species as the implanted nucleus; e.g. can an enucleated egg taken from an orang be implanted with a nucleus taken from a chimp to produce a chimp clone? What's the chemistry involved?


Replies:
If the enucleated egg and cell are from closely related species, the hybrid cell might develop into a viable organism closely resembling the nucleus donor since the vast majority of the genes are in the nucleus, but the mitochondrial genes contributed by the enucleated egg must be compatible with the nuclear genes. I don't think the experiment has been done.

Ron Baker, Ph.D.


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